New Delhi: The government is deliberating the introduction of safety standards for e-rickshaws, akin to the Bharat NCAP, to enhance road safety, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari announced on Thursday.
During the 7th Edition of the FICCI Road Safety Awards and Symposium, Gadkari, who serves as the Minister for Road, Transport, and Highways, emphasized that road safety remains a critical concern for the government. He pointed out that India witnesses around five lakh road accidents annually, resulting in approximately 1.8 lakh fatalities.
Gadkari highlighted a troubling statistic: roughly 66.4 percent of these deaths occur among individuals aged 18 to 45. He stressed the necessity for public awareness regarding traffic regulations and the importance of providing immediate assistance to accident victims in need of hospitalization. “We are also bringing in Bharat NCAP-like standards for e-rickshaws, as they comprise a significant number across the country. We are assessing how we can improve safety in this sector,” he stated.
In 2023, Gadkari launched the Bharat NCAP (New Car Assessment Programme), aimed at elevating the road safety standards for motor vehicles weighing up to 3.5 tonnes.
Addressing the primary causes of road accidents, he remarked that approximately 30,000 fatalities result from the non-use of helmets, while an additional 16,000 fatalities arise from not wearing seat belts. He also noted that road accidents account for an economic loss equivalent to about 3 percent of the GDP.
Despite advancements in other areas, Gadkari acknowledged that the government has not made equivalent progress in reducing road accidents. He mentioned that safety audits have been conducted in various locations to identify accident causes.
Gadkari urged the public to expedite the transfer of accident victims to hospitals, stating that prompt medical treatment could potentially save up to 50,000 lives.
