Nitin Gadkari Highlights Faulty Road Designs as a Key Factor in Rising Accidents
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has identified faulty DPRs and road designs as key factors in increasing road accidents in India. He emphasizes the need for improved road safety measures, adoption of modern technologies, and better planning by engineers. With 180,000 road deaths reported in 2023, the government aims to halve road accidents by 2030.
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari criticized dysfunctional detailed project reports (DPRs) and inadequate road designs during the Global Road Infratech Summit & Expo (GRIS), attributing these issues to the rise in road accidents throughout India. He emphasized the necessity for improved road safety measures, highlighting that most accidents stem from minor civil errors and a lack of accountability.
Gadkari urged the road construction sector to embrace new technologies and utilize sustainable, recyclable materials to enhance road safety. He pointed out deficiencies in road signage and marking systems, suggesting that India could benefit from the practices of countries like Spain, Austria, and Switzerland.
He criticized the quality of DPRs in India and attributed the increase in accidents to poor planning by engineers. Gadkari stated, “The main problem is road engineering and defective planning, and defective DPRs.” With 180,000 road fatalities reported in India for 2023, he stressed that reducing accidents by 50% by 2030 is a top government priority.
International Road Federation (IRF) president emeritus K K Kapila also spoke at the event, advocating for the integration of safety considerations in all facets of road design and management. This approach aims to minimize road accidents and move towards a vision of zero fatalities.
In summary, Nitin Gadkari has underscored the critical issues of substandard DPRs and defective road designs as primary contributors to rising road accidents. The call for accountability and the adoption of innovative and sustainable construction technologies is paramount, alongside a commitment from the government to significantly lower road fatalities by 2030. Collaborative efforts aimed at improving road safety measures are essential for preventing future accidents.
Original Source: www.ndtv.com
