Nitin Gadkari on Road Accidents:
Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari admitted on Monday that, despite the government’s best efforts to reduce road accidents, significant success has not been achieved. He made this statement while addressing the Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India (ACMA) during its annual convention. Gadkari urged industries to utilize Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds to organize awareness programs in schools.
“We are trying our level best, but we are not achieving the desired success,” Gadkari said. He added that “about 5 lakh road accidents occur every year in India, with 30,000 accidents happening in institutional areas like schools. Of the 1.68 lakh deaths, 66 percent of the victims are in the age group of 18 to 36 years.”
Utilize CSR Funds for Awareness Programs
Gadkari urged the automobile industry to use CSR funds to educate the public and students. “We need the cooperation of the media, social organizations, NGOs, and industries. You don’t need to provide financial support to the government, but through CSR initiatives, you can organize events and contribute to the cause. Many people are already doing this, but we need to identify effective programs that can help change human behavior,” he said.
Focus on Schools
He also emphasized the importance of targeting schools. “If you can focus on schools and change the mindset of the next generation, that will make a significant impact. Our goal is to reduce accidents by 50 percent, but we are still not making the desired progress,” Gadkari added.
Engineers’ Role in Road Accidents
Gadkari also highlighted the role of engineering faults in road accidents. “In Assam, one district saw a 35-40 percent reduction in accidents because road engineering is the primary culprit in many cases. I always hold my engineers responsible for these accidents,” he said.
Meanwhile, manufacturers of passenger and commercial vehicles have agreed to offer buyers a discount of 1.5 to 3 percent on the price of a new vehicle after scrapping the old one. This decision came after discussions with Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari. The move is expected to help reduce road congestion, which may also prevent accidents.
