NEW DELHI: The Government of India is taking a major step towards improving road safety and enhancing vehicle standards by initiating safety assessment ratings for battery-operated e-rickshaws. This move follows the success of the Bharat New Car Assessment Program (BNCAP), the country's indigenous star-rating system for four-wheelers.
“The idea is to encourage manufacturers to enhance production quality and ensure safer vehicles. We are already working on developing standards and a safety assessment system for battery-operated e-rickshaws, which currently face serious safety concerns,” said Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Mr. Nitin Gadkari. He made the statement while inaugurating a two-day workshop on Vehicle and Fleet Safety, jointly organised by Global NCAP (GNCAP) and the Institute of Road Traffic Education (IRTE).
Mr. Gadkari added that improving the safety of e-rickshaws would not only enhance their quality but also boost employment opportunities.
Highlighting the government’s commitment to road safety, the minister noted, “India reports the highest number of fatal road accidents globally — 4.8 lakh crashes each year, resulting in 1.8 lakh deaths. Our top priorities include safer roads, safer vehicles, and expansion of the electric vehicle ecosystem.”
He also announced that the ministry is working on reducing logistics costs from the current 14–16% to 9% in the next few years, citing the critical role of the automobile industry in India's economic growth.
To address challenges faced by truck drivers, Mr. Gadkari revealed that the ministry is formulating regulations to cap working hours, as many currently drive up to 14 hours a day. The government also plans to establish 32 state-of-the-art driving institutes across the country. Air-conditioning in truck driver cabins has already been made mandatory, and the installation of Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems (ADAS) is now a compulsory safety feature.
Emphasising the importance of awareness from a young age, Mr. Gadkari said road safety has now been included in the school curriculum for Classes 1 to 12. A road safety anthem composed by renowned singer Shankar Mahadevan will be released in 22 languages to promote national awareness.
Dr. Rohit Baluja, President of IRTE, said, “This two-day workshop will review progress in vehicle safety since 2000, outline the steps required to meet 2030 targets, and focus on the implementation of the Global Plan for vehicle safety — especially among G20 economies, including India. Fleet and motorcycle safety will also be major focus areas.”
David Ward, President Emeritus of GNCAP, lauded India's growing commitment to safer vehicles. “Indian consumers now have access to vehicles with safety ratings under GNCAP and BNCAP. This is a strong step toward achieving the United Nations’ road safety targets for 2030,” he said.
