‘I Hide My Face’: Nitin Gadkari Admits Embarrassment Over India’s Road Safety Failures at Global Forums
‘I Hide My Face’: Nitin Gadkari Admits Embarrassment Over India's Road Safety Failures at Global Forums
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari shared his concerns about road safety in India, expressing that he feels embarrassed when road accidents are discussed at international conferences. During a Lok Sabha session on Thursday, he mentioned that he had hoped to cut road accidents by 50 percent when he took on the role of Road Transport and Highways Minister.
“Instead of reducing the number of accidents, I must admit that it has actually increased. When I attend international conferences discussing road accidents, I feel the urge to hide my face,” he stated while responding to a question.
According to a report by PTI, the minister highlighted the importance of changing behaviors in Indian society and following the law to enhance road safety. He also recounted a personal experience where he and his family were involved in a serious road accident that resulted in him spending a long time in the hospital.
“Thanks to God’s blessings, my family and I were fortunate to escape unharmed. This gives me firsthand experience with accidents.” He mentioned that one of the main reasons for accidents is the improper parking of trucks on the roads, and noted that many trucks do not adhere to lane discipline.
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has urged the adoption of international standards for the manufacturing of bus bodies in India. He emphasized the necessity of having hammers installed near bus windows for emergency situations, enabling passengers to break the glass if needed during accidents. Gadkari also pointed out the concerning number of road fatalities in the country, which claims about 178,000 lives each year, with 60 percent of the victims being between the ages of 18 and 34. Uttar Pradesh has the highest number of fatalities, while Delhi has the most deaths among cities. Following Uttar Pradesh, where over 23,000 people (13.7 percent) lost their lives in road accidents, Tamil Nadu (18,000), Maharashtra (15,000), and Madhya Pradesh (13,000) are also significant contributors to the statistics. In terms of cities, Delhi has the highest toll with over 1,400 deaths, followed by Bengaluru with 915 and Jaipur with 850 fatalities from road accidents.
