International Road Federation flags safety non-adherence in road projects in India
Advt
Join the community of 2M+ industry professionals. Subscribe to Newsletter to get latest insights & analysis in your inbox.
Get updates on your preferred social platform Follow us for the latest news, insider access to events and more.
Most road projects are being carried out without adherence to basic work zone safety norms, like poorly marked or unlit diversions, leading to fatal crashes, the India chapter of International Road Federation said on Wednesday.In a statement, International Road Federation (IRF) expressed concerns over the growing number of fatalities and severe road crashes occurring in and around road construction zones across India."Across numerous active construction sites, IRF-India Chapter has observed a lack of advance warning signs for diversions or lane closures, absence of reflective tapes, barricades or cones, poorly marked or unlit diversions, which is extremely dangerous, resulting in serious accidents, especially at night," India Chapter (IRF-IC) president Akhilesh Srivastava said.Further, he said that there is no deployment of flagmen and marshals and inadequate speed calming measures in these zones.This has led to a disturbing spike in head-on collisions, wrong-side driving and fatal crashes, all of which are preventable, Srivastava added.He said a recent tragic incident on the Bengaluru-Chennai Expressway is a stark example. A fatal head-on crash involving two vehicles occurred due to an unmarked diversion caused by ongoing roadworks."The lack of signage and lane separation led one vehicle onto the wrong side of the carriageway, resulting in the death of both occupants," Srivastava saidIRF-IC demanded immediate action from all stakeholders, including mandatory compliance with IRC Work Zone Safety Guidelines for all National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), State Public Works Departments, and private road contractors.Safety audits should be conducted before, during, and after construction works, IRF-IC said, adding that stakeholders ought to also focus on public disclosure of work zone plans, diversion maps and timelines.The concerned authorities also need to come up with strict penalties and criminal liability for fatalities arising from work zone violations, the federation suggested.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News18
13 hours ago
- News18
NFR GM inspects site of wagon overhauling workshop in Assam
Last Updated: Guwahati, Aug 8 (PTI) Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) General Manager Chetan Kumar Srivastava inspected the proposed site of a Wagon Periodic Overhauling (POH) workshop at Basbari in Assam's Kokrajhar district, an official spokesperson said here. The GM on Thursday stressed on timely completion of projects, while highlighting the significance of the workshop in supporting regional economic growth. The workshop is proposed to be set up with a total capacity of 250 wagons per month, with Phase I operations targeting 75 wagons per month. The project, with an estimated Phase I cost of Rs 256.35 crore, will play an important role in providing employment opportunities, stimulate skill development, encourage growth of local allied industries and help transform the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) of Assam into a significant logistics and industrial hub, the spokesperson said in a statement. The NFR GM during the inspection on Thursday emphasised the significance of the project in view of the anticipated growth in freight traffic following the execution of multiple sanctioned rail infrastructure projects, including new line, doubling of tracks and multimodal projects. The Basbari POH workshop will be pivotal in enhancing operational efficiency and supporting regional economic growth, he maintained. Srivastava also emphasised on timely completion of infrastructure projects with a focus on safety, quality and sustainability. Covering an area of approximately 2,500 bighas (825 acres), Basbari POH workshop is strategically located just 1 km from Basbari railway station and 17 km from Rupsi Airport, offering strong multimodal connectivity. The workshop is designed with modern facilities including specialised shops for stripping, body repair, painting, ancillary works and quality control, with a planned phased ramp-up to its full overhaul capacity, the spokesperson added. PTI SSG SSG RG view comments First Published: August 08, 2025, 13:45 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Mint
01-08-2025
- Mint
'AC thoda kam chalega, petrol kaafi mehenga hai': Woman shares inspiring Uber ride story
'Ma'am, AC thoda kam chalega. Petrol kaafi mehenga ho gaya hai," (Ma'am, the AC will run a little less—petrol has become quite expensive) a woman cab driver told Amiyanshi Srivastava, a LinkedIn user, at the start of her Uber ride. The statement might have left many annoyed, but for Srivastava, it turned out to be an inspiring journey. Srivastava took to LinkedIn to share her experience of taking an Uber ride in Gurugram with a female driver — something that she claimed should have been 'ordinary. But it wasn't.' She recalled that as soon as she entered the cab and provided the OTP, the driver turned around and said: 'Ma'am, the AC will run a little less. Petrol has become quite expensive.' Srivastava said she was perfectly fine with it and struck up a conversation, asking how long the woman had been driving. 'Four years,' the driver responded. The driver went on to share that she was once a school teacher. After losing her husband to a cardiac arrest, and with two children to raise, she taught herself how to drive, borrowed a friend's car, and began working with Uber. Srivastava wrote that the driver now deals with rude riders, 12-hour shifts, unsafe nights, and frequent cancellations simply because 'people don't want a female driver.' Despite the long hours, safety concerns, and gender bias, she continues to work hard — without complaints. 'And still, she shows up. Drives from 9 to 9. Keeps her kids in school. Doesn't complain. And every once in a while, she picks up someone who asks her story,' Srivastava added. 'What struck me was not just her resilience, but her complete lack of self-pity. 'I didn't have the luxury to break down,' she said.' Srivastava continued: 'And here's what stayed with me: While we talk about owning spaces online, voicing opinions, and building visibility — rightfully so — some women are just trying to survive in silence, carrying the strength the rest of us often only talk about. Somewhere in the backseat of that cab, I was reminded that ambition doesn't always hold degrees. Sometimes, it drives a second-hand Swift through Gurgaon traffic at 8 am. And it deserves to be seen.' Srivastava's LinkedIn post has struck a chord with many, drawing a flurry of comments applauding the driver's determination and strength. One user wrote: 'That's real power! Proud of that woman. May she achieve all her dreams.' Another said: 'Very inspiring real-life story!' A third added: ''I didn't have the luxury to break down.' These words hit me hard. Indeed, if someone truly wants to achieve something, nothing is impossible. What an inspiring story! Thanks for sharing. ' A fourth commented: 'Some stories are so empowering. Women like her are real-life role models.'
Mint
30-07-2025
- Mint
International Road Federation flags safety non-adherence in road projects in India
New Delhi, Jul 30 (PTI) Most road projects are being carried out without adherence to basic work zone safety norms, like poorly marked or unlit diversions, leading to fatal crashes, the India chapter of International Road Federation said on Wednesday. In a statement, International Road Federation (IRF) expressed concerns over the growing number of fatalities and severe road crashes occurring in and around road construction zones across India. "Across numerous active construction sites, IRF-India Chapter has observed a lack of advance warning signs for diversions or lane closures, absence of reflective tapes, barricades or cones, poorly marked or unlit diversions, which is extremely dangerous, resulting in serious accidents, especially at night," India Chapter (IRF-IC) president Akhilesh Srivastava said. Further, he said that there is no deployment of flagmen and marshals and inadequate speed calming measures in these zones. This has led to a disturbing spike in head-on collisions, wrong-side driving and fatal crashes, all of which are preventable, Srivastava added. He said a recent tragic incident on the Bengaluru-Chennai Expressway is a stark example. A fatal head-on crash involving two vehicles occurred due to an unmarked diversion caused by ongoing roadworks. "The lack of signage and lane separation led one vehicle onto the wrong side of the carriageway, resulting in the death of both occupants," Srivastava said IRF-IC demanded immediate action from all stakeholders, including mandatory compliance with IRC Work Zone Safety Guidelines for all National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), State Public Works Departments, and private road contractors. Safety audits should be conducted before, during, and after construction works, IRF-IC said, adding that stakeholders ought to also focus on public disclosure of work zone plans, diversion maps and timelines.
