The Consultative Committee of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways met on January 23, 2026, under the chairmanship of Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Shri Nitin Gadkari to deliberate on urgent and coordinated measures for reducing road accidents and fatalities across the country. Ministers of State for Road Transport and Highways Shri Harsh Malhotra and Shri Ajay Tamta were also present at the meeting.
The meeting focused on the theme “Measures for Reduction in Road Accidents and Fatalities” and underscored the need for a comprehensive, multi-pronged strategy involving engineering improvements, effective enforcement, public education and strengthened emergency care. The Chairman of the National Highways Authority of India briefed the Committee on ongoing initiatives being undertaken to enhance safety on National Highways.
A detailed presentation was made by the Additional Secretary Transport on initiatives being pursued under the four pillars of road safety—Engineering, Enforcement, Education and Emergency Care. The presentation highlighted progress achieved so far, persisting challenges and the need to intensify existing interventions while adopting new technologies. The Secretary, Road Transport and Highways, informed the Committee about the development of artificial intelligence enabled road safety solutions in collaboration with IIT Kanpur.
While acknowledging the steps taken by the Ministry, Members of Parliament expressed serious concern over the continued high incidence of road accidents and fatalities. They called for a more aggressive and coordinated national response. Key issues raised included faster rectification of accident black spots, widening of critical National Highway stretches, availability of trauma care facilities along highways, enhancement of compensation for accident victims, and improved maintenance of roads.
Members also highlighted gaps in coordination with State Governments for State Highways, irregular conduct of Members of Parliament Road Safety Committee meetings at the district level, inadequate road markings, and substandard signage and reflectors. It was suggested that landslide-prone locations should be identified and treated on the lines of accident black spots. Other recommendations included incorporating road safety education into school curricula, establishing a dedicated Centre for Road Safety, and ensuring at least one trauma care centre in every district.
Responding to the deliberations, Shri Nitin Gadkari informed the Committee that the Department of Telecommunications has allocated 30 GHz radio frequency spectrum for the development of vehicle-to-vehicle communication systems. He stated that this advanced communication technology would play a significant role in reducing road accidents and fatalities by enabling real-time information exchange between vehicles.
The Minister urged Members of Parliament to actively engage with State authorities to ensure regular meetings of the Members of Parliament Road Safety Committees in their districts, with participation from District Collectors, police, public works departments and other concerned agencies. He informed that road safety provisions are being integrated into Detailed Project Reports at the planning stage itself and directed Regional Officers and Project Directors of the Ministry and NHAI to attend MPRSC meetings regularly and ensure timely safety interventions in ongoing projects.
Shri Gadkari also announced that artificial intelligence based road safety applications would be shared with States and Union Territories to strengthen enforcement and monitoring. He requested Members to submit detailed notes outlining their concerns and suggestions for further evaluation by the Ministry.
During the meeting, the Minister showcased the Road Safety Anthem, which has been translated into 22 regional languages. He appealed to Members of Parliament to promote the anthem in schools, public gatherings and community platforms to build mass awareness on road safety.
Reiterating the Government’s firm commitment to saving lives on Indian roads, Shri Nitin Gadkari called upon all officers and stakeholders to continue working with dedication to create safer road infrastructure and a culture of responsible road use across the country.
