1.5 lakh people die in 5 lakh road accidents every year
- Road engineering is partly responsible for the road accidents in India.
- The minister of road transport and highways said more underpasses and overbridges would be constructed in national highways to keep a check on accidents.
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As many as 1.5 lakh people die every year in 5 lakh road accidents in the country, Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said in Lok Sabha on March 9.
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"It is very unfortunate that 1.5 lakh people die in around 5 lakh road accidents that take place in the country every year. Road engineering can also be partly blamed for these high number of accidents," he said during Question Hour.
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Gadkari said the government has accorded highest priority in reducing the number of accidents and checking deaths on the road.
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He said more underpasses and overbridges would be constructed in national highways which pass through villages and towns so that all such accidents could be checked.
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The Minister said 14,268 kms road are being converted into four-lane roads at the cost of ₹1,83,180 crore and their works will be completed by May 2019.
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"An amount of ₹62,046 crore has been incurred on the development of National Highways including works of four-laning of NHs in various states during 2016-17," he said.
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Gadkari also said toll tax to the tune of ₹43,721 crore was collected on NHs in the country in the last three years.