Lok Sabha Question No. 400 (STARRED), answered on 2025-03-27
Subject: Road Accidents in Maharashtra and Bihar
Ministry: ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
Asked by: Shri Ravindra Dattaram Waikar, Shri Naresh Ganpat Mhaske

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 400

## ANSWERED ON 27 TH  MARCH, 2025

## ROAD ACCIDENTS IN MAHARASHTRA AND BIHAR

*400. SHRI RAVINDRA DATTARAM WAIKAR: SHRI NARESH GANPAT MHASKE:

## Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री

## be pleased to state:

- (a) the  total  number  of  road  accidents  reported  on  National  and State  highways  in  Maharashtra  and  Bihar  during  the  last  five years  and  the  primary  causes  identified  by  the  Government thereof;
- (b) the specific road safety measures implemented including intelligent traffic systems, stricter speed regulations and accident-prone zone identification to reduce fatalities;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  initiated  any  collaborations  with private firms or global road safety experts to adopt best practices  and  technology-driven  solutions  for  minimizing  road accidents in Maharashtra and Bihar, if so, the details thereof;
- (d) the current status of the proposal to set up emergency response infrastructure  including  trauma  care  centers,  highway  patrol teams and dedicated air ambulance services on major highways; and
- (e) the  steps  being  taken  by  the  Government  to  enforce  stricter penalties,  improve  driving  training  programmes  and  regulate overloaded commercial vehicles which contribute to high number of accidents?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS (SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)

- (a) to (e)   A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) TO (e) OF THE LOK SABHA  STARRED  QUESTION  NO.  400  FOR  ANSWER  ON  27.03.2025 ASKED BY SHRI RAVINDRA DATTARAM WAIKAR AND SHRI NARESH GANPAT MHASKE REGARDING ROAD ACCIDENTS IN MAHARASHTRA AND BIHAR.

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- (a) Government publishes  annual  report  'Road  Accidents  in  India', based on data received from States/UTs. As per reports for the year 2018  to  2022, total number  of  road  accidents  in the State of Maharashtra and Bihar on National Highways (NHs) and State Highways (SHs) during the calendar year 2018 to 2022 are as under : -

|       | Maharashtra                      | Maharashtra                      | Maharashtra       | Maharashtra       | Bihar                      | Bihar                      | Bihar             | Bihar             |
|-------|----------------------------------|----------------------------------|-------------------|-------------------|----------------------------|----------------------------|-------------------|-------------------|
| Years | Length of NHs (in Km as on 31 st | Length of NHs (in Km as on 31 st | Road Accidents on | Road Accidents on | Length of NHs (in Km as on | Length of NHs (in Km as on | Road Accidents on | Road Accidents on |
|       | March)                           | March)                           | NHs               | SHs               | 31 st March)               | 31 st March)               | NHs               | SHs               |
|       | NHs                              | SHs                              |                   |                   | NHs                        | SHs                        |                   |                   |
| 2018  | 17,765                           | 38,999                           | 9,355             | 7,755             | 4,877                      | 4,006                      | 4,016             | 2,089             |
| 2019  | 17,757                           | 32,005                           | 8,360             | 7,214             | 5,358                      | 4,006                      | 4,526             | 1,945             |
| 2020* | 17,931                           | 31,992                           | 6,501             | 5,518             | 5,358                      | 3,714                      | 4,101             | 1,711             |
| 2021* | 18,196                           | 32,486                           | 7,501             | 6,328             | 5,771                      | 3,714                      | 4,349             | 2,115             |
| 2022  | 18,317                           | NA                               | 9,417             | 6,902             | 5,940                      | 3,714                      | 4,601             | 2,428             |

As per the data, road accidents occur due to multiple causes such as over  speeding,  use  of  mobile  phone,  drunken  driving/consumption  of alcohol and drug, driving on wrong side/ lane indiscipline, jumping red light,  non-use  of  safety  devices  such  as  helmets  and  seat  belts, vehicular condition, weather condition, road condition etc.

- (b) and (e) The  Government  in  the  Ministry  of  Road  Transport  and Highways  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 Government for road safety in the country as detailed at Annexure.
- (c) Signed  a  Memorandum  of  Understanding  (MoU)  with  SaveLIFE Foundation  to  collaborate  and  work  towards  improving  road  safety across India. The objective of the MoU are as under : -
- i. to  implement  Zero-Fatality  road  corridor  programme  on  the  top 100 highest road fatality highways.
- ii. to  facilitate  Zero-Fatality  District  programme  in  the  top  100 highest road fatality districts.
- iii. to facilitate the complete implementation of the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019 in the country.

Further, Ministry has approved the proposal of IIT, Madras for setting up of Centre of Excellence for Road Safety.

- (d) Government has taken initiatives to support State Governments towards setting up of Trauma Care Facilities (TCFs) along the National Highways  in  the  country  under  'National  Programme  for  Prevention and Management of Trauma and Burn Injuries'. During 11th Five Year Plan (2007-2012) and 12th Five Year Plan (2012-2017), a total of 196 Trauma Care Facilities (TCFs) were sanctioned in Government Hospitals/ Medical Colleges across the country.

Further, Government has requested all the States/ UTs on 28.12.2022 to set up dedicated Highway Police Stations at regular intervals along the Highways and Expressways to ensure efficiency and effectiveness.

## ANNEXURE

ANNEXURE REFERRED TO REPLY TO PART (b) and (e) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.  400  ANSWERED  ON  27.03.2025  ASKED  BY SHRI  RAVINDRA  DATTARAM  WAIKAR  AND  SHRI  NARESH  GANPAT MHASKE  REGARDING  ROAD  ACCIDENTS  IN  MAHARASHTRA  AND BIHAR.

Details  of  various  initiatives  taken  by  the  Government  in  Ministry  of Road Transport & Highways for road safety : -

- (1)        Education:
- i.        Administers  Road  Safety  Advocacy  Scheme  to provide  financial assistance  to  various  agencies  for  raising  awareness  about  road safety and for administering road safety programs.
- ii.      Observance  of  National  Road  Safety  Month/Week  every  year  for spreading awareness and strengthening road safety.
- iii.     Administers  a  scheme  for  setting  up  of  Institutes  of  Driving Training & Research (IDTRs), Regional Driving Training Centres (RDTCs)  and  Driving  Training  Centres  (DTCs)  at  state/district  level across the Country.
- (2)     Engineering :
6. 2.1.    Road engineering:
- i.      Road Safety Audit (RSA) of all National Highways (NHs) has been made mandatory through third party auditors/ experts at all stages i.e. design, construction, operation and maintenance etc.
- ii.      High  priority  is  accorded  to  identification  and  rectification  of black spots /accident spots on NHs.
- iii.    Road Safety Officer (RSO) has been designated at each Regional Office  of  road  owning  agencies  under  the  Ministry  to  look  after  RSA and other road safety related works.
- iv.     Administers  the  electronic  Detailed  Accident  Report  (e-DAR) Project  to  establish  a  central  repository  for  reporting,  management and analysis of road accidents data across the Country.
- v.      Issued  guidelines  for  the  provision  of  signages  on  Expressways and  National Highways  to  offer improved  visibility and  intuitive guidance to the drivers.
- vi.       Provisions  have been made in the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 for failure to comply with standards for the road design, construction and maintenance, as prescribed by the Central Government from time to time.

## 2.2    Vehicle engineering:

Various initiatives were undertaken to make vehicles safer, including the following:-

- i.       Mandatory provision of an airbag for the passenger seated on the front seat of a vehicle, next to the driver.
- ii.        Prescribed norms related to safety measures for children below four  years  of  age,  riding  or  being  carried  on  a  motor  cycle.  It  also specifies use of a safety harness, crash helmet and restricts speed to 40kmph.
- iii. Mandatory  provisions  for  fitment  of  following  listed  safety technologies: -

For M1 category vehicles:

- Seat Belt Reminder (SBR) for driver and co-driver.
- Manual Override for central locking system
- Over speed warning system.

For all M and N category vehicles:

- Reverse Parking Alert System
- 
- 
- 
- 
- iv.        Mandated Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) for certain classes of  L  [Motor  vehicle  with  less  than  four  wheels  and  includes  a Quadricycle],  M  [Motor  vehicles  with  at  least  four  wheels  used  for carrying passengers] and N [Motor vehicles with at least four wheels used for carrying goods which may also carry persons in addition to goods, subject to conditions stipulated in BIS standards] categories.
- v.     Mandated  speed  limiting  function/speed  limiting  device  in  all transport vehicles, except for two wheelers, three wheelers, quadricycles, fire tenders, ambulances and police vehicles.
- vi.     Published  the  rules  for  recognition,  regulation  and  control  of Automated  Testing  Stations,  which  define  the  procedure  for  fitness testing  of  vehicles  through  automated  equipment  and  the  procedure for  grant  of  fitness  certificate  by  ATSs.  The  rules  have  been  further amended on 31.10.2022 and 14.03.2024.
- vii.   Formulated the Vehicle Scrapping Policy based on incentives/disincentives and for creating an ecosystem to phase out old, unfit and polluting vehicles.
- viii. Formulated  a Scheme  to  set up one model  Inspection  & Certification  Centre  in  each  State/UT  with  Central  assistance  for testing the fitness of vehicles through an automated system.
- ix.  Published rules regarding the Bharat New Car Assessment Program (BNCAP) to introduce the concept of safety rating of passenger cars and empower consumers to take informed decisions.
- x.  Published rules regarding prescribed level playing field in the area of manufacturing  of buses  by  Original  Equipment  Manufacturers (OEMs) and Bus Body Builders.
- xi.   Mandated  vehicles,  manufactured  on  or  after  1st  October,  2025, shall be fitted with an air-conditioning system for the cabin of vehicles of N2 (goods vehicle with gross vehicle weight exceeding 3.5 tonnes but  not  exceeding  12.0  tonnes)  and  N3  (goods  vehicle  with  gross vehicle weight exceeding 12.0 tonnes) category.
- xii. Published  rules for revision of standards  for Safety Belt, Restraint Systems and Safety Belt Reminder to provide provisions for applicability  of  revised  standards  for  safety  belt  assemblies,  safety belt  anchorages  and  the  installation  of  Safety  Belts  and  Restraint Systems, in Motor vehicles of category M,N and L7 w.e.f. 01st April, 2025. Further, the vehicles of category M1, manufactured on and after the 1st April 2025, shall meet the requirement of safety belt reminder for all front facing rear seats as per AIS-145-2018.

## (3)        Enforcement:

- i. The  Motor  Vehicles  (Amendment)  Act,  2019  as  stands implemented provides for strict penalties for ensuring compliance and enhancing deterrence for violation of traffic rules and strict enforcement  through  use  of  technology.  Traffic  management and enforcement  is  essentially  in  the  domain  of  State  Governments/UT Administrations. While Central Government formulates rules under the Motor Vehicle Act, 1988, the enforcement of these rules comes under the purview of State Governments/UT Administrations. The Government  has  specifically  requested  all  States/  UTs  for  strict implementation  of  provisions  of  Motor  Vehicles  Act,  1988  related  to overloading of vehicles.
- ii.         Issued rules for Electronic Monitoring and Enforcement of Road Safety.  The  rules  specify  the  detailed  provisions  for  placement  of electronic enforcement devices on high risk & high density corridors on  National  Highways,  State  Highways  and  critical  junctions  cities having a population of more than one million in the country and cities
3. under National Clean Air Programme (NCAP). iii.     On 10th June, 2024, the Government has issued an advisory to all the  States  and  Union  territories  on  technological  interventions  for ensuring compliance with Motor Vehicle Act, 1988. (4)        Emergency care: i.   Published rules for the protection of Good Samaritan, who in good faith, voluntarily and without expectation of any reward or compensation  renders  emergency  medical  or  non-medical  care  or assistance at the scene of an accident to the victim or transports such victim to the hospital. ii.   Enhanced compensation of victims of Hit and Run motor accidents (from Rs. 12,500 to Rs. 50,000 for grievous hurt and from Rs. 25,000 to Rs.2,00,000 for death). iii.  The National Highways Authority of India has made provisions for ambulances with paramedical staff/Emergency Medical Technician/Nurse at toll plazas on the completed corridors of National Highways. iv.  Government in Ministry of Road Transport and Highways along with National Health Authority (NHA), has implemented a pilot program for in

providing cashless treatment to victims of road accidents Chandigarh, Haryana, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Puducherry and Assam.

*****