India's Roads Claim 1.8 Lakh Lives Yearly, Minister Announces Rs 40,000 Crore Plan

Why in news

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari announced a ₹40,000 crore plan to address road safety and 'black spots' in India, highlighting that road accidents cause 1.8 lakh deaths annually.

Background

India records nearly 5 lakh road accidents annually resulting in 1.8 lakh deaths. Two-wheelers account for 45% of these fatalities, with poorly designed stretches and human behavior identified as primary causes.

Facts for Prelims

• FactIndia's road fatalities: 1.8 lakh deaths annually from nearly 5 lakh accidents.
• FactTwo-wheelers account for 45% of road fatalities in India.
• FactGovernment plan: ₹40,000 crore allocated to address road 'black spots'.

For Mains

Q. Discuss the systemic and behavioral challenges contributing to high road mortality in India and suggest measures to enhance road safety infrastructure.

Dimensions to cover in your answer

• infrastructure: black spot identification
• behavioral: road safety education
• policy: enforcement of safety norms

Keywords: road safety · black spots · infrastructure development · human behavior · public safety

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