‘I try to hide my face in meetings abroad’: Nitin Gadkari on accidents


PTI, Dec 12, 2024, 2:31 PM IST

New Delhi: “When I go to attend international conferences where there is a discussion on road accidents, I try to hide my face,” Nitin Gadkari said on Thursday, underlining he had set a target to reduce accidents by 50 per cent when he first took charge as the Road Transport and Highways Minister.

During a discussion on road accidents in Lok Sabha on Thursday, Gadkari said, “Forget about reducing the number of accidents, I have no hesitation to admit that it has been increased. When I go to attend international conferences where there is a discussion on road accidents, I try to hide my face.” He was replying to a supplementary during the Question Hour.

The minister said that for things to improve human behaviour in India has to change, society has to change and rule of law has to be respected.

Gadkari said he and his family met with a major accident some years ago and he needed to be hospitalised for a long time. “By the grace of God, I and my family were saved. So I have my personal experience of accidents.” He said parking of trucks on road is a major cause for accidents and many of the trucks don’t follow lane discipline.

He said he has ordered for following international standards in making bus body in India. There has to be a hammer near a bus window so that it can be broken easily in case of accidents, he said.

Earlier, Gadkari said road accidents claim 1.78 lakh lives annually in the country and 60 per cent of the victims are in the age group of 18-34 years.

He said while Uttar Pradesh leads the chart among states, Delhi tops the list for cities. In UP, over 23,000 people (or 13.7 per cent of the total deaths due to road accidents) died, followed by Tamil Nadu with over 18,000 (10.6 per cent) deaths.

In Maharashtra, the figure stands at over 15,000 (or nine per cent of the total deaths), followed by Madhya Pradesh with over 13,000 (eight per cent) deaths.

Delhi leads the city chart with over 1,400 deaths, followed by Bengaluru with 915 deaths. Jaipur registers 850 deaths due to road accidents.

Udayavani is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with the latest news.

Top News

HC dismisses petitions challenging amendments to Gujarat Education Act

Kejriwal promises to end unemployment in Delhi within five years

Woman ends life over loan fraud in Belagavi

Mumbai: ED searches in Torres Ponzi case linked money laundering case

Adityanath pays tribute to Subhas Chandra Bose on birth anniversary

Markets pare early losses to trade higher amid rally in Asian markets

Kadaba: Man fills diesel tank at petrol bunk, escapes without paying

Related Articles More

Shocking: Retired soldier kills wife, dismembers body, and cooks it in a pressure cooker

At Maha Kumbh, hope of fresh lease of life for differently-abled – free artificial limbs, treatment

HC dismisses petitions challenging amendments to Gujarat Education Act

HC seeks NIA’s stand on J-K MP Rashid Engineer’s plea in terror case

Navi Mumbai civic body collects 82 tons waste after Coldplay event

MUST WATCH

Pineapple cultivation

Smart City Mangalore’s Drainage Problems

Lalbagh Flower Show 2025

Organ donation

Vaikuntha Ekadashi is celebraion in America

Latest Additions

Shocking: Retired soldier kills wife, dismembers body, and cooks it in a pressure cooker

Rohit, Rishabh flop in Ranji Trophy clash against their Opponents

At Maha Kumbh, hope of fresh lease of life for differently-abled – free artificial limbs, treatment

HC dismisses petitions challenging amendments to Gujarat Education Act

Actress Rashmika Mandanna talks about retirement

Thanks for visiting Udayavani

You seem to have an Ad Blocker on.
To continue reading, please turn it off or whitelist Udayavani.