Nitin Gadkari seeks discussion on road safety awareness in Parliament: ‘Despite all efforts, results have not been satisfactory’
During Parliament's Winter Session, Nitin Gadkari said that India sees 5 lakh road accidents and 1.8 lakh related deaths annually, with 66 per cent of the deceased aged between 18 and 34.
Recently, on Thursday, Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari expressed concerns over the alarming rates of road accidents in India, citing lack of fear or respect for the law. Gadkari has urged public representatives to run road safety programmes in their respective constituencies. (Express Photo) Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari Thursday requested Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to hold a discussion to spread awareness about following traffic rules to avoid road accidents.
“I request you to take the initiative to have a special debate on this. Despite all efforts, the results have not been satisfactory. I accept that with grief,” Gadkari said, addressing the Speaker, during the ongoing Winter Session of Parliament. He was responding to a question by the BJP’s Surat MP Mukeshkumar Dalal on road accidents during the Question Hour.
“The minister has expressed deep concern over road accidents. We, as public representatives, should make collective efforts and also individual efforts in our constituencies to make plans to address road accidents,” the Speaker said.
The Speaker also said that efforts should be made to raise awareness and identify other causes of accidents, so that the problem could be addressed by next year. He added that the next session could see a discussion on road accidents and safety.
Gadkari said India witnesses 5 lakh road accidents and 1.8 lakh related deaths each year, with 66 per cent of the deceased aged between 18 and 34. He added that an All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) study found that immediate treatment after an accident can save 50,000 lives a year.
Gadkari said the government has launched a scheme under which anyone who brings an accident victim to a hospital will be awarded Rs 25,000 as a “Raahveer” and will not face any harassment. Hospitals will be paid immediately for seven-day treatment up to Rs 1.5 lakh to save lives, he added.
He said that committees to handle accidents have been set up in all districts under the district collectors. He requested the members to have bimonthly meetings of these committees and identify black spots in their constituencies. He said h7,000 black spots had already been rectified, and set aside Rs 40,000 crore for the purpose.
Gadkari said that six airbags are now mandated in automobiles. Companies have also been asked to give a helmet with every two-wheeler purchased, he said.
“I am sad to say that accidents are related to human behaviour. There is no fear or respect for the law. The number of people killed in accidents are more than those who die in wars or due to Covid. Public education is important, and we are running campaigns with people like Amitabh Bachchan. We run programmes to raise awareness of road safety among young people. You all should hold such programmes in your constituencies,” Gadkari said.
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