Unfortunate & Shocking: India Ranks #1 In Road Accident Deaths Globally; Minister Replies In Rajya Sabha

According to a recent statistical report, India has a concerningly high number of road accidents, compared to other countries. It has sees the highest number of fatalities via road accidents across the world.

India Worst In Terms of Deaths From Road Accidents

According to the latest edition of the World Road Statistics (WRS) 2018, curated by the International Road Federation, Geneva, India witnesses the third highest number of accidents in the world.

Not just that, it also is the country witnessing the highest number of people killed in road accidents and third highest in terms of people getting injured in the same.

According to the report, people in the age bracket of 18 to 45 years comprise the majority of the ones dying in such car accidents in the country.

In terms of percentage, as high as 69.8%, which is almost 70% of people died in car accidents in India in 2020, informed the Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari on Wednesday, in the Parliament.

22 Greenfield Highways in the Making

Addressing a separate query in the Rajya Sabha, Gadkari said that a total of 22 greenfield highways, which included:

• 5 expressways, expanding over 2,485 km length and costing Rs 1,63,350 crore, and 
• 17 access controlled highways, expanding over 5,816 km length and costing Rs 1,92,876 crore

have been predicted and set for development.

He added that three sections of the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway are targeted to be completed by March 23.

They include:

• Delhi Dausa – Lalsot; Length: 214 km,
• Vadodara Ankelshwar; Length: 100 km, and
• Kota Ratlam Jhabua; Length: 245 km.

Addressing another question in the House, Gadkari said that FASTag is issued to vehicle users on the basis of Vehicle Registration Number/Chassis number.

A total of 4,95,20,949 such FASTags were issued by various banks, as of March 30, 2022, and the penetration of these electronic toll collection tags at fee plazas on the National Highways stand approximately at 96.5%, a PTI report cited.