NEW DELHI, March 7: Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, highlighted the urgent need for improved road safety measures and emphasized the government’s goal to reduce road accident rates by 50% by 2030. Speaking at the two-day ‘Global Road Infratech Summit and Expo (GRIS)’ in the national capital, Gadkari called on the road construction industry to adopt new technologies and sustainable, recyclable construction materials to enhance road safety.
The Minister pointed out that a major contributor to road accidents in India is poor civil engineering practices, including substandard road design, construction, and management, along with inadequate road signage and marking systems. He suggested that lessons could be learned from the practices followed by countries like Spain, Austria, and Switzerland, which have implemented better road safety systems.
India records approximately 4,80,000 road accidents annually, resulting in 1,80,000 deaths and around 4,00,000 serious injuries. Notably, 1,40,000 of these deaths occur in the 18-45 age group, affecting mostly two-wheeler riders and pedestrians. Gadkari also emphasized that these accidents cause an economic loss equivalent to 3% of the country’s GDP.
The Minister held engineers responsible for the rise in accidents due to poor planning and the design of roads, particularly citing substandard Detailed Project Reports (DPRs). He urged the industry and government to work together in finding solutions to prevent road accidents, stressing the importance of education, building safer infrastructure, and raising awareness about safer driving habits. Additionally, he called for stronger law enforcement and more responsive emergency medical services to mitigate the impact of accidents.
The GRIS summit aims to inspire innovation in road infrastructure, showcase cutting-edge solutions from industry providers, and create networking opportunities for experts and decision-makers from both government bodies and private organizations.
