India plans to launch safety ratings for trucks and buses of all shapes and sizes, on the lines of the protocol that exists for cars.
The Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is working with the Global New Car Assessment Program to launch Bharat NCAP-style safety assessment ratings for commercial vehicles in India, according to a statement on Thursday. That will ensure safer cargo transport on the second largest road network in the world.
“The idea is to encourage production quality, making vehicles more safe,” Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari said during an event in New Delhi on Thursday. “India accounts for the highest number of fatal road accidents with 4.8 lakh road crashes each year, resulting in 1.8 lakh deaths. The government's top priority is on road safety, expansion of safe highways and vehicle safety…”
Separately, the quality of e-rickshaws is also under evaluation.
“The government is already working on standards and a safety assessment system for battery-operated rickshaws in the country as they suffer from safety issues,” Gadkari said. “The safety improvement in e-rickshaws will improve their quality and generate more employment.”
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