NHAI-World Bank rolls out ₹7,500-cr road safety scheme

The Union government has planned to partner with the World Bank to implement a ₹7,500 crore scheme to reduce accident-prone areas and black spots on national and state highways. Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari informed that NHAI has identified 3,750 black spots on national highways and more such accident-prone areas are being added to the list. India does not have a very good record on the road accident front and registers the world’s highest deaths due to it at 1.5 lakh every year and the government will soon implement the plan with the support of the World Bank across the country. The government has urged the World Bank to implement this program across the country. It is a matter of concern that 65 per cent of those who die every year in road accidents are in the 18-45 age group. The scheme has been implemented in Tamil Nadu with the help of the World Bank and there is already a 50 per cent reduction in accidents and deaths.