THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
(SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)
(a) The Ministry has formulated a multi-pronged strategy to address the issue of road safety based on Education, Engineering (both of roads and vehicles), Enforcement and Emergency Care. Accordingly, various initiatives have been taken by the Ministry as detailed below:-
(i) Education:
? The Ministry implements a scheme for undertaking publicity measures and awareness campaigns on road safety to create awareness among road users through the electronic media, print media, NGOs etc.
? Observance of National Road Safety Week every year for spreading awareness and strengthening road safety.
? A Certification Course for Road Safety Auditors has been commenced in Indian Academy of Highway Engineers (IAHE).
(ii) Engineering (both of Roads and vehicles)
? Road engineering
• High priority to identification and rectification of black spots (accident prone spots) on national highways.
• Road safety has been made an integral part of road design at planning stage.
• The threshold for four laning of National Highways have been reduced from 15,000 Passenger Car Units (PCUs) to 10,000 PCUs.
• Ministry has delegated powers to Regional Officers of MORTH for technical approval to the detailed estimates for rectification of identified Road Accident black spots.
• Guidelines for pedestrian facilities on National Highways for persons with disabilities have also been issued to all States / UTs.
? Vehicle engineering:
• Safety standards for automobiles have been improved.
• Ministry has notified fitment of Speed Limiting devices on all transport vehicles
• Scheme for setting up one model Inspection & Certification Centre in each State/UT with Central assistance for testing the fitness of vehicles through an automated system.
(iii) Enforcement
? The recently passed The Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019 provides for strict enforcement through use of technology and further provides for strict penalties for ensuring strict compliance and enhancing deterrence for violation of traffic rules.
? Rules for protection of Good Samaritans as per the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019 have been published.
(iv) Emergency care:
? The Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019 provides for a scheme for the cashless treatment of victims of the accident during the golden hour.
? The National Highways Authority of India has also deployed 550 ambulances at toll plazas on the completed corridor of National Highways.
? Out of 550 ambulances, 171 ambulances have been upgraded to Basic Life Support as per AIS-125.
The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways has notified “Member of Parliaments’ Road Safety Committee” in each district of the country to promote awareness amongst road users under the chairmanship of Hon’ble Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) from the district.
b) A sum of Rs. 51.01 crore has been released to States/UTs for conducting various road safety awareness programme during the National Road Safety Week, 2020, the National road safety Month, 2021 and for Awareness on Road Safety including COVID-19 AT public transport etc. during the FY 2019-20 and 2020-21. The State/UT-wise, year wise break up of the same is given at Annexure-I.
(c) The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways has been implementing a scheme of financial assistance to NGOs for Administering Road Safety Advocacy since FY 2018-19. Proposals from the eligible organizations under the scheme are invited online through the Scheme portal. The ministry has sanctioned total 714 advocacy programmes till date under the scheme. Details of the funds released under the scheme during the FY 2019-20 and FY 2020-21 (Till 16.3.2021) is given at Annexure-II-A and Annexure-II-B respectively.
(d) & (e) : Proposals for Road Safety Advocacy programme under the scheme of financial assistance to NGOs for road safety advocacy for the current financial year 2020-21 were invited online through the Scheme portal. For evaluation and selection of most suitable proposals out of the online proposals received for FY 2020-21 under the scheme subject to the eligibility conditions as laid down in the scheme, maximum target number etc., a committee at each State/UT level with the following composition has been constituted by the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways on 21.12.2020:
1) The Secretary (Transport) --- Chairman
2) The Commissioner(Transport) --- Member
3) The DG/ ADG(Traffic) --- Member
4) The Regional Officer, NHAI •-- Member
5) The Regional Officer, MoRTH --- Member Secretary
Work order to the organizations selected by the Committee is issued by the concerned Regional office, MoRT&H. As per information from ROs, till date work orders to 177 organizations have been issued for the road safety advocacy in respect of 14 States/UTs. Details of the same is given at Annexure-III.
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