Ministry of Road Transport and Highways formulates road safety plan

Our Reporter
Dimapur, July 19 (EMN): Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has formulated a multi-pronged strategy to address the issue of road safety based on education, engineering (both of roads and vehicles), enforcement and emergency care.

As per the data received from police departments of various states and UTs, the total number of persons killed in road accidents in the year 2017 is 1,47,913; 1,51,417 persons killed in 2018, and 1,51,113 persons killed in 2019. This information was given by Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Jairam Gadkari in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha on Monday.

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways notified the “Member of Parliaments’ Road Safety committee” in each district of the country to promote awareness amongst road users, according to a PIB report.

The Ministry issued guidelines for pedestrian facilities on national highways for persons with disabilities to all states and UTs. It has also delegated powers to regional officers of MORTH for technical approval to the detailed estimates for rectification of identified road accident black spots.

The ministry also initiated a scheme for setting up one model inspection and certification centre in each state and UT with central assistance for testing the fitness of vehicles through an automated system.

Under the initiative for emergency care, the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019 provides for a scheme for the cashless treatment of victims of the accident during the golden hour. The National Highways Authority of India also made provisions for ambulances at all toll plazas on the completed corridor of national highways.  

Further, 297 ambulances have been upgraded to basic life support as per AIS-125 and upgradation for the remaining is under process.