Press Information Bureau
Government of India
Ministry of Road Transport & Highways
06-February-2017 17:09 IST
Cashless Treatment to Road Accident Victims
To reduce vehicular pollution across the country, Government has taken proactive steps to promote environment friendly vehicles which are innovative, ushering in proactive use of natural resources. Bharat Stage IV Fuel Norms have been applicable since the year 2010 in Delhi and NCR and certain cities. The set norms have been mandated in phase wise manners across the country. The Government has notified G.S.R. 643(E), dated 19/08/2015 for introduction of BS- IV fuel throughout the country by the year 2017. Furthermore, steps have been taken by notifying alternate fuels like ethanol, biogas, electric hybrid etc. by amending the Central Motor Vehicle Rules. Ministry has issued GSR 889(E) dated 16th September, 2016 for introduction of BS VI, mandating mass emission standard for BS-VI throughout the country w.e.f. from 1st, April 2020.
The National Green Tribunal vide its order, dated 18.07.2016 and 20.7.2016 in O.A. 21 of 2014, Vardhaman Kaushik V/s Union of India has directed that diesel vehicles older than 10 years to be deregistered in NCR of Delhi. In compliance to the orders of NGT, de-registration of diesel vehicles more than 10 years old is being carried out by the respective State Government. The proposal to introduce ‘Vehicle Fleet Modernization Programme’ to enable the replacement of Old Vehicles is under consideration. This will ensure phasing out of older polluting vehicles and enable their replacement with fuel efficient and environment friendly vehicles. The concept note on ‘Vehicle Fleet Modernization Programme’ to enable the replacement of Old Heavy and Medium Commercial Vehicles as they contribute the maximum of vehicular pollution was placed on Ministry’s official website for information and comments from concerned Ministries and Departments and other stakeholders. The matter has been placed before the Committee of Secretaries for their recommendations.
Steps To Reduce Road Accidents By 50 Percent by Year 2020
United Nations had promulgated the UN Decade of Action targeting to reduce road accidents by 50% by the year 2020. All member countries of the UN including India are committed to this Mission, for which this Ministry is making efforts to enhance road safety on our highways, in collaboration with the stakeholders. A draft action plan has been formulated and circulated to all States for implementation. Besides this the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has taken a number of steps to prevent road accidents as per details mentioned under:
i. The Government has approved a National Road Safety Policy. This Policy outlines various policy measures such as promoting awareness, encouraging safer road infrastructure including application of intelligent transport, enforcement of safety laws trauma care etc.
ii. The Government has constituted the National Road Safety Council as the apex body to take policy decisions in matters of road safety.
iii. The Ministry has requested all States/UTs for setting up of State Road Safety Council and District Road Safety Committees, and to hold their meetings regularly.
iv. The Ministry has formulated a multi-pronged strategy to address the issue of road safety based on 4 ‘E’s viz. Education, Engineering (both of roads and vehicles), Enforcement and Emergency Care. Based on this, a draft action plan has been shared with the states.
v. Road safety has been made an integral part of road design at planning stage.
vi. Road Safety Audit of selected stretches of National Highways has been taken up.
vii. High priority has been accorded to identification and rectification of black spots (accident prone spots) on national highways. A total of 789 such black spots have been identified for improvement.
viii. The threshold for four laning of national highway has been reduced from 15,000 Passenger Car Units (PCUs) to 10,000 PCUs. About 52,000 Km of stretches of State Highways has been identified for conversion to national highways.
ix. Setting up of model driving training institutes in States and refresher training to drivers of Heavy Motor Vehicle in the unorganized sector.
x. Advocacy/Publicity campaign on road safety through the electronic and print media.
xi. Tightening of safety standards for vehicles like Seat Belts, Power-steering, anti-lock braking system etc.
xii. Providing cranes and ambulances to various State Governments under the National Highway Accident Relief Service Scheme for development on National Highways. National Highways Authority of India also provides ambulances at a distance of 50 Km. on each of its completed stretches of National Highways under its Operation & Maintenance contracts.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways Shri Munsukh L. Mandaviya in written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.
Source- Press Information Bureau, Government of India, Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, Date: 06-February-2017
