Raipur: Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, has issued a stern call for prioritizing safety in road construction across India in light of the alarming rise in road accidents and fatalities. Speaking at the 83rd annual session of the Indian Roads Congress held at Pt Deendayal Upadhyay Auditorium in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, Gadkari emphasized that safety must be embedded in every step of road construction to prevent future accidents.
Addressing the audience on Friday, November 8, Gadkari warned that he would hold himself responsible if any fatal accident occurs due to flawed road engineering. To address this, he advised government engineers to consider establishing independent companies specializing in detailed project report (DPR) creation, promising them priority assignments for high-quality DPRs.
The minister highlighted that over 1.68 lakh lives are lost annually due to road accidents, a number that continues to rise. He pointed out that many accidents are attributable to defective engineering in both roads and automobiles, as well as subpar DPRs, which have hindered road safety improvements. Gadkari urged the gathered engineers and officials to ensure no tenders are issued without thoroughly examining DPRs for potential hazards, stating, "Build roads where no accidents occur due to engineering defects."
Sustainable Innovations in Road Construction
Gadkari also announced a series of new road infrastructure projects for Chhattisgarh, sharing his vision of creating a road network in the state on par with the United States within the next two years. He emphasized the importance of adopting sustainable practices in road construction, particularly through waste-to-energy technologies. He encouraged Chhattisgarh to produce CNG and bitumen from paddy straw, an agricultural byproduct, to reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels and curb pollution.
The Central Road Research Institute (CRRI) and the Indian Institute of Petroleum in Dehradun have successfully produced bio-bitumen from paddy straw, with ongoing use in Meghalaya. Gadkari stated, “Paddy straw can replace up to 35% of bitumen content,” citing that India's current demand for bitumen is 90 lakh metric tonnes, but only 40-50 lakh metric tonnes can be produced locally, forcing the country to import the remaining supply.
If Chhattisgarh adopts this method, Gadkari highlighted that it would not only reduce pollution but also create wealth from waste. He referenced similar projects in Punjab and Haryana, where 400 initiatives are underway to produce bio-CNG and bio-LNG from paddy straw. By following suit, he argued, Chhattisgarh could substantially decrease its reliance on petrol and diesel.
A Call for Change in Road Safety Standards
Gadkari’s call to action represents a push for reform across India’s road construction and safety practices. "Improvement in road engineering will curb accidents and save lives," he stressed. Addressing the impact of defective engineering on the nation’s youth, who make up nearly 60% of road accident victims, Gadkari implored officials to construct safer roads and adopt new technologies to address India’s burgeoning road safety crisis.
