Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari Explains Why Road Accidents in India Are Rising

We see the construction of highways and expressways happening in almost every part of the country. The road network is expanding, and we now have several high-speed expressways too. Along with these, the number of road accidents in India is also rising. In a recent event, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari explained why road accidents in India are on the rise.

Speaking at the Global Road Infratech Summit & Expo (GRIS), Nitin Gadkari said that poor road designs and faulty detailed project reports are the causes of the rising number of road accidents and deaths in India. He said, “Most of the road accidents happen in the country due to small civil mistakes, faulty DPRs, and nobody is held accountable.” The minister also emphasized the need for better road safety measures. He urged road construction agencies to adopt modern technology and sustainable materials. While talking about quality, he also mentioned that many roads in India don’t meet the standards and have poor signage and markings. He said India should learn from other countries like Spain, Austria, and Switzerland.

Truck Falls into an Old Well

We came across a video recently where a heavy truck passing through a narrow road in Pune was simply swallowed by a sinkhole. The video of the incident has surfaced online. The road was made of interlocking bricks. What was initially thought to be a sinkhole turned out to be a well. The road was constructed over an old well. When the truck passed through, the bricks simply collapsed under its weight, and the rear of the truck fell in. In fact, the whole truck was swallowed by the sinkhole.

This accident happened due to poor planning. While they claim that the well was filled before starting the work, they are not sure if there is any other duct that brings water into the well. This accident would have never happened if the authorities had conducted proper research and consulted experts and locals.

We have also come across several videos where newly constructed highways have already developed potholes in various areas. The recently opened coastal road in Mumbai, which had a budget of around ₹14,000 crores, has already undergone patchwork. The reason behind this repair work is the poor quality of work done by the Bombay Municipal Corporation and L&T Construction. We also came across an incident where a particular stretch of the newly opened Delhi-Mumbai Expressway had caved in, causing vehicles passing through the area to go airborne. Videos of several cars, including a Hyundai Creta and a Tata Indica, going airborne had gone viral.

The Union Minister had given warnings and has also issued fines to contractors who failed to build roads that meet the standards. These poor-quality roads lead to more accidents, as a driver does not expect a pothole in the middle of a newly built road.

The minister has also warned contractors and agencies to maintain roads properly. Failing to do so will not only invite heavy fines from the government but will also result in the company being blacklisted from future government contracts. All necessary measures have been taken to ensure that contractors follow proper techniques and build roads without compromising quality.