Road transport and highways Minister Nitin Gadkari has talked of countless road deaths. Governments try to downplay it but Gadkari is an exception. Stress is laid on helmet law and the legislation behind it. Non-governmental initiatives are more effective than governmental efforts in this area. Needless to say, two wheelers cause more damage than cars. Gadkari’s ministry has released a report called “Road Safety in India in 2015”. In 2015, 400 people died every day on India’s roads. It was 382 in 2014 and 390 in 2011. More vehicles are now on the roads and new highways have been built which partly accounts for the increase in the number of casualties. However, Gadkari blames engineering defects and laxity and corruption in the issue of driving licences. Contracts for road construction are given in exchange for contribution to political party funds. Engineering quality is also not given due attention for the same reason.
It may be said that Gadkari has released the report by way of an apology. He had recently condemned the lack of political will preventing the passage of the road safety bill. Vested interests botched efforts to computerise operation of highways and ensuring transparency. India is second only to China in the list of road fatalities. Gadkari hopes that the number of deaths will go down to a half by 2020. If he means it he will deserve the highest compliment.
