Question : Rural Road Accidents under PMGSY

(a) whether rural areas are witnessing increased road accidents with rapid expansion in road network under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY);

(b) if so, the percentage of road accident fatalities reported in rural areas in comparison to urban roads during the last three years and the current year, State/UTwise;

(c) whether road accidents, apart from loss of life, have serious financial impact on the States every year and if so, the details thereof; and

(d) whether the Union Government has requested the State Governments to focus on road safety measures at the time of planning rural roads and if so, the details thereof and the response of the State Governments thereto, State/UT-wise;

(e) whether the National Rural Road Development Agency (NRRDA) under the Ministry of Rural Development has advised the State Governments to create a separate cell for taking care of the road safety issues and if so, the details thereof; and

(f) whether the Union Government has issued directions to the State Governments to make budgetary provision for formulation, execution, monitoring and evaluation of rural road safety annual plan of action and if so, the response of the State Governments thereto?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT
(SHRI RAM KRIPAL YADAV)

(a) to (c): Unlike higher order roads (i.e. Major District Roads, State Highways, National Highways), there is no established mechanism of reporting road accidents and fatalities for rural roads. Hence, there is no empirical data for roads accidents occurring in different States, on rural roads.

(d): State Governments are frequently advised to assess the present and future road safety implications on the rural roads at the time of planning of road alignment, preparation of Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) and their implementation. These issues are addressed by adopting appropriate mitigation measures in rural roads design and construction.

(e) & (f): States have been advised vide letter dated 7th February 2017 to constitute within State Rural Roads Development Agency (SRRDA), with the existing technical staff, a separate cell for taking care of road safety issues, which would be useful in educating the road user, rural public, executing staff in mitigating loss of life, damage to the road structures and vehicles. State Governments have also been advised to keep a budgetary provision for formulation, execution, monitoring and evaluation of road safety annual plan of action for rural roads.

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