Nitin Gadkari blames civil engineers for road accidents, calls for legal action against them
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Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari has blamed civil engineers, consultants, and flawed Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for India’s rising road accidents and fatalities. Speaking at the Global Road Infratech Summit & Expo (GRIS) on Thursday, he said poor road designs and planning were key reasons behind the surge in accidents, yet no one was held accountable.
India records 4.8 lakh road accidents annually, resulting in 1.8 lakh deaths and 4 lakh serious injuries. Two-wheeler riders and pedestrians are the most affected. “Out of these deaths, 66.4% are in the 18-45 age group. This is a 3% loss to GDP and a huge loss of young talent,” Gadkari said.
He held civil engineers responsible for poor road planning and design. “The main culprits are those making the DPRs. There are thousands of mistakes in them. After 10 years of experience, I believe FIRs should be filed against them,” he stated.
Gadkari also criticized India’s poor road signage and marking systems, comparing them to better systems in Spain, Austria, and Switzerland. He urged the industry to use advanced technologies and sustainable materials to improve road safety.
The government aims to reduce road accidents by 50% by 2030. He called for industry-government collaboration to enhance infrastructure, enforce safety measures, and improve emergency response systems.
International Road Federation (IRF) president emeritus KK Kapila supported Gadkari’s views, stressing the need to prioritize safety in road design and construction to reduce accidents and move towards zero fatalities.
