Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, has blamed civil engineers, consultants, and faulty project reports for the rising number of road accidents and deaths in India. Speaking at the Global Road Infratech Summit & Expo (GRIS) on Thursday, he said that small construction mistakes and poor road designs are causing more accidents, but no one is being held responsible.

"It is a serious problem that India has so many road accidents," said Nitin Gadkari. "Every year, we have 4.8 lakh accidents and 1.8 lakh deaths, possibly the highest in the world.

Gadkari pointed out that a majority of the victims,66.4% are between the ages of 18 and 45, which leads to a significant loss of young talent, including doctors, engineers, and skilled professionals. He also noted that these accidents result in a 3% loss to India’s GDP, making road safety a major national issue that needs urgent attention.

Nitin Gadkari strongly criticized civil engineers for poor road planning and design, holding them accountable for the rising number of accidents.

"The main culprits behind these accidents are civil engineers," he stated. "I don’t blame everyone, but after 10 years of experience, I have realized this is a major issue. Those preparing the Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) make countless mistakes, and I believe FIRs should be filed against them for their negligence."

Gadkari said that India records 4.8 lakh road accidents every year, leading to 1.8 lakh deaths and around 4 lakh serious injuries. He pointed out that two-wheeler riders and pedestrians are the most vulnerable in these accidents.

The minister also condemned India's road signage and marking systems, saying they are not up to global standards when compared to countries like Spain, Austria, and Switzerland. He urged the industry to use better technology and sustainable materials to improve road safety.

With road safety being a top priority, Gadkari reiterated the government’s goal of reducing accident rates by 50% by 2030. He called for joint efforts between the government and industry to enhance road infrastructure, enforce stricter safety measures, and improve emergency medical response systems.

International Road Federation (IRF) president emeritus KK Kapila also spoke at the summit, supporting Gadkari’s concerns. He emphasized that improving road design, construction, and management is essential to reducing accidents and working toward zero fatalities.

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