Uttar Pradesh Targets 50% Reduction in Road Accidents Despite Resource Constraints

Uttar Pradesh is implementing measures to reduce road accidents by 50% as part of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's safety initiative, Transport Minister Dayashankar Singh announced at the 25th National Workshop on Road Safety & Best Practices in New Delhi today.

The two-day conference, organized by the All India Federation of Motor Vehicle Department Technical Executive Officers Association and the Transport Regional Inspectors Service Association, brought together officials from multiple states to address India's road safety challenges.

Transport Commissioner Brijesh Narayan Singh described the 50% reduction target as both an administrative and humanitarian goal. The state government has developed a 'Vision 2030 Roadmap' based on education, engineering, enforcement, and emergency response to achieve this objective.

India recorded approximately 1.72 lakh road fatalities and 4.63 lakh injuries in 2023, according to data presented at the workshop. Two-wheeler users accounted for 44.8% of all deaths, with around 77,000 fatalities. An estimated 54,000 deaths were directly linked to non-use of helmets. Pedestrians contributed to 20% of fatalities, with approximately 35,000 deaths.

Rajeev Kapur, Managing Director of Steelbird Helmets and President of the 2 Wheeler Helmet Manufacturer Association India, highlighted the counterfeit helmet problem, stating that 50% of helmets in the Indian market do not meet safety standards. He called for increased production capacity, requiring an investment of ₹6,000 crore, 2 crore square feet of manufacturing space, and 80,000 workers.

The 'Mission Save Lives 2.0' initiative proposes phased implementation beginning in Tier 1 cities in 2028, expanding to Tier 2 cities by 2029, and reaching Tier 3 cities and rural areas by January 2031. The program includes licensing reforms, real-time verification of BIS license holders, and mandatory in-house testing laboratories for helmet manufacturers.

Current helmet taxation stands at 18% GST, classifying them as non-essential items. The mission advocates for reducing GST to 12% and reclassifying helmets as essential safety equipment. Starting January 2027, all two-wheeler manufacturers would be required to supply two BIS-certified helmets with each vehicle sale.

The conference was attended by Regional Inspectors and Motor Vehicle Inspectors from Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal. Singh emphasized that road safety forms a component of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision for developed India by 2047.