Synopsis
The Government of India has received the Prince Michael Decade of Action Road Safety Award for its decade-long efforts to improve vehicle safety standards, including new assessment programs and ABS requirements for two-wheelers.Key Takeaways
- India recognized for road safety advancements.
- New car safety assessment program launched.
- ABS mandatory for new two-wheelers.
- Road network expanded significantly.
- Collaboration with global organizations for infrastructure projects.
New Delhi, Feb 23 (NationPress) The Government of India has received the esteemed Prince Michael Decade of Action Road Safety Award in recognition of its initiatives to improve vehicle safety standards over the last decade.
This accolade highlights significant advancements, including the launch of a new car safety assessment program and the requirement for anti-lock braking systems (ABS) in all newly manufactured two-wheelers in the nation.
The global road safety awards were presented during the 4th Ministerial Conference on Road Safety that took place in Marrakech. India shared this honor with Morocco, which was also acknowledged for its contributions to road safety. Transportation leaders from various countries attended the Marrakech conference, which aimed to formulate strategies for reducing global road fatalities by 50 percent by 2030.
Ajay Tamta, Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways, accepted the award on behalf of the Government of India from Etienne Krug of the World Health Organization (WHO).
While reading the award citation, Tamta emphasized the crucial policy transformation that commenced in 2014, following independent crash tests of Indian vehicles. This led to a revised framework for vehicle safety standards introduced by the Road Transport Ministry.
In 2018, the Narendra Modi government laid out a roadmap to align India's vehicle safety norms with European standards by 2023.
This prestigious global award is particularly significant given the 60 percent increase in the length of India's National Highway network over the past decade, rising from 91,287 km in 2014 to 146,195 km in 2024, making it the second-largest road network worldwide, according to official statistics.
In a remarkable achievement, the National High-Speed Corridors have expanded from only 93 km in 2014 to 2,474 km in 2024, showcasing the substantial improvement in the country's infrastructure.
The swift expansion of the nation's highways is a result of initiatives by the Government of India, including flagship programs such as the Bharatmala Pariyojana.
An additional 2,540 km of highways has been constructed through externally funded projects with assistance from the World Bank, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
