"Most Important Culprits Are Civil Engineers”: Nitin Gadkari Says Road Accidents Cause 3% Economic Loss To GDP

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari has asked for an immediate need to improve road safety measures.

Nitin Gadkari blames civil engineers for road accidents

Speaking at the Global Road Infratech Summit & Expo (GRIS) on Thursday, the Minister directly blamed the civil engineers, consultants, and flawed detailed project reports (DPRs) for the surging road accidents and fatalities in India. 

"The most important culprits in all these accidents are civil engineers. I don't blame everybody, but after 10 years of experience, I have come to this conclusion. The most important culprits are those who are making the DPR (Detailed Project Report), and there are thousands of mistakes. I'm of the view that an FIR should be registered against the people making these reports," he said.

Gadkari urged the road construction industry to ensure road safety by adopting newer technologies and sustainable recyclable construction materials. 

He further remarked that accidents contribute to an economic loss of 3 per cent to GDP. 

"It is not good for us that, in India, we are facing a lot of crucial problems regarding road accidents. Every year, we have 4 lakh 80 thousand road accidents and 1 lakh 80 thousand deaths, probably the highest in the world. Out of these deaths, 66.4% per cent are in the age group of 18 to 45, and there is a 3 per cent loss in GDP. The loss of young people who are doctors, engineers, and, very importantly, talented youths is actually a great loss for our country," Gadkari said.

The Union Minister also opined that the industry and government should work closely in finding solutions to prevent road accidents.

“With road safety a top priority, the government aims to reduce accident rates by 50 per cent by 2030,” the Minister said.

He also pointed out the need for stronger law enforcement and responsive emergency medical services in cases of unfortunate events on the road.

The GRIS summit is being organised to facilitate innovation, showcase cutting-edge solutions from industry providers, promote knowledge exchange, and open valuable networking opportunities for experts and decision-makers from government bodies as well as private organisations.

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