Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin GadkariUnion Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Thursday said that global automobile companies have begun sending their vehicles to India for testing under the Bharat New Car Assessment Programme (BNCAP), highlighting the growing credibility of the country’s safety regime. The indigenous star-rating system for crash testing cars was launched by the road ministry in August 2023 after much delay.
Speaking at the SIAM annual convention, Gadkari said that the government is setting up a state-of-the art ₹1,500 crore testing centre in Pune to strengthen vehicle safety assessment infrastructure.
He stressed that improving driver skills is equally important to road safety. “Lack of skilled drivers has led to disastrous results on roads. We need more training centres to create a safer environment,” Gadkari said.
The minister lauded the efforts of automobile manufacturers in promoting safer vehicles and noted that after passenger vehicles, the government will also focus on safety in the two-wheeler segment, which he described as a “dark area” in his administration. “Human behaviour is a big trouble when it comes to road safety,” he added.
On post-accident response, Gadkari said the government has introduced incentives for people who bring injured accident victims to hospitals on time, addressing delays that often worsen outcomes.
Turning to alternative fuels, Gadkari reiterated his push for ethanol and biofuels to reduce India’s dependence on fossil fuels and strengthen its position as an export hub. He described ethanol as a “great tool” for creating a cleaner, more self-reliant economy.
Responding to recent social media criticism on ethanol, Gadkari dismissed it as a “paid attempt” aimed at damaging his image.
