Anurag Jain, Secretary of Road Transport and Highways, said that the Bharat NCAP will help democratise safety features, talking at the launch of the programme.
It is a significant step forward in the government’s commitment to improving road safety by raising the safety standards of motor vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes in India.
The Bharat NCAP programme aims to provide a tool to passenger vehicle buyers to make a comparative assessment of crash safety of motor vehicles available in the market.
Jain added that BNCAP will help the industry to become more competitive in the export market as well. "The days are gone where cost was an important factor. Today, quality is more important than cost as consumers are able to afford and take the leap toward safety. The industry will take this as an important milestone and provide the best safety standards for the Indian Auto industry,” the Secretary stated.
“The programme aims to provide a tool to the car customers to make a comparative assessment of crash safety of motor vehicles available in the market. Under this programme, car manufacturers can voluntarily offer their cars tested as per Automotive Industry Standard (AIS) 197," said the release by the ministry.
“Based on the performance of the car in the tests, car will be awarded star ratings for Adult Occupants (AOP) and Child Occupant (COP). Potential car customers can refer to these star ratings to compare the safety standards of different vehicles and accordingly make their purchase-decision," it added.
The ministry further said that NCAP has been programme has evolved based on consultations with all stakeholders. It added that BNCAP will be led by the Central Institute of Road Transport (CIRT).
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