Faulty DPRs and Poor Designs Leading to Rising Road Accidents, Says Nitin Gadkari
Nitin Gadkari cites faulty DPRs and poor road designs as major causes of rising road accidents in India during the GRIS. He calls for accountability in engineering, improved safety measures, and learning from international best practices. With 180,000 deaths in 2023, the government aims to cut road accidents by 50% by 2030, as emphasized by K K Kapila from the IRF.
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari attributed the rise in road accidents in India to faulty detailed project reports (DPRs) and poor road designs created by civil engineers and consultants. Speaking at the Global Road Infratech Summit & Expo (GRIS), he emphasized the urgent need for enhanced road safety measures. 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 industry to devise strategies for improving road safety through the adoption of advanced technologies and sustainable materials. Additionally, he noted deficiencies in road signages and marking systems, advocating for India to learn from nations such as Spain, Austria, and Switzerland to improve road safety standards.
Highlighting the responsibilities of engineers, Gadkari remarked on the poor quality of DPRs produced in the country, which he believes contribute significantly to the increase in road accidents. He voiced that better planning and road engineering are vital for reducing accidents, stating that 180,000 fatalities occurred due to road incidents in India in 2023.
Gadkari affirmed that the government is committed to prioritizing road safety, setting a target to reduce accidents by 50 percent by 2030. K K Kapila, president emeritus of the International Road Federation, echoed these sentiments, advocating for a focus on safety in all road design, construction, and management aspects to aim for a future with zero fatalities.
In summary, Nitin Gadkari has highlighted the critical issues contributing to the alarming number of road accidents in India, focusing on defective DPRs and road designs. He calls for accountability and improved practices within the construction industry, alongside a commitment from the government to significantly reduce road accidents by 2030. The insights from the GRIS underscore the need for a collaborative approach to enhance road safety.
Original Source: www.ndtv.com
