Nitin Gadkari Highlights Faulty Road Designs as Key to Rising Accidents

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari attributes rising road accidents in India to faulty project reports and poor road designs by engineers. He urged the construction industry to adopt new technologies and improve safety measures. With 180,000 deaths in 2023, the government aims to reduce accidents by 50% by 2030. K K Kapila emphasized prioritizing safety in road design to minimize fatalities.

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari expressed concern over the increase in road accidents in India, attributing the issue to faulty detailed project reports (DPRs) and flawed road designs created by civil engineers and consultants. Speaking at the Global Road Infratech Summit & Expo (GRIS), he emphasized the critical need to enhance road safety measures in light of the alarming statistics regarding road fatalities.

Minister Gadkari stated, “Most of the road accidents happen in the country due to small civil mistakes, faulty DPRs and nobody is held accountable.” He urged the road construction sector to implement innovative strategies, incorporating new technologies and environmentally friendly construction materials to improve safety on roads.

Highlighting deficiencies in road infrastructure, he remarked on the poor quality of road signage and marking systems in India, suggesting that lessons could be learned from countries such as Spain, Austria, and Switzerland. Gadkari criticized the quality of DPRs in India and indicated that engineers play a significant role in the prevalence of road accidents due to substandard planning and design.

As per Gadkari, India witnessed approximately 180,000 fatalities from road accidents in 2023, and the government has set a goal to reduce these incidents by 50 percent by the year 2030. K K Kapila, President Emeritus of the International Road Federation (IRF), highlighted the significance of prioritizing safety in all facets of road design, construction, and management. The aim is to create a future where road accidents are rare and ultimately achieve zero fatalities.

In summary, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has identified defective project reports and design flaws as key contributors to rising road accidents in India. With an alarming number of fatalities recorded, he calls for urgent reforms within the road construction sector and advocates the use of better technologies and practices. The government’s commitment to halving road accidents by 2030 emphasizes the need for coordinated efforts to enhance road safety, reflecting a proactive approach towards preventing further tragedies.

Original Source: www.ndtv.com