Safety assessment rating for trucks, heavy vehicles on lines of Bharat NCAP soon: Gadkari
New Delhi, Apr 24 (PTI) The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is planning to launch safety assessment rating for trucks and heavy commercial vehicles on the lines of Bharat NCAP (New Car Assessment Programme), the country's own crash testing programme, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said on Thursday.
Addressing an event organised by the New Car Assessment Program (GNCAP) and the Institute of Road Traffic Education (IRTE), Gadkari said the idea is to encourage manufacturers to improve the production quality making vehicles more safe.
The road transport and highways minister further said the government is already working on standards and safety assessment system for battery-operated e-rickshaw's in the country as they suffer from safety issues.
The safety improvement in e-rickshaws will improve their quality and generate more employment, he added.
In 2023, Gadkari had launched the Bharat NCAP (New Car Assessment Programme), which is aimed at improving at road safety standards of motors vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes.
He said India accounts for the highest number of fatal road accidents with 4.8 lakh road crashes each year resulting in 1.8 lakh deaths.
The government's top priority is road safety, expansion of safe highways and vehicle safety and bolstering electric vehicles, Gadkari added.
He said the government is also working on reducing logistics cost to 9 per cent in the next couple of years from the present 14-16 per cent.
Gadkari also said the road ministry is also working on a law to determine the working hours for truck drivers as they drive 13-14 hours a day at present.
First Published: 24 Apr 2025, 03:54 PM IST
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
36 minutes ago
- Time of India
How China's craze for Pakistani donkeys is crushing the cash-strapped country's poor
Abdul Rasheed is in trouble. Last week, his donkey named Tiger, his only source of income, died in an accident. Without a donkey cart, Rasheed has no way to earn money. But buying a new donkey is now a big problem. Prices have shot up to as high as Rs 2 lakh in Karachi and other parts of Pakistan, far more than the Rs 30,000 he paid for Tiger eight years ago. Rasheed is not alone. Many other poor workers who rely on donkeys for their daily earnings are facing the same crisis. The reason? A growing demand from China, which uses donkey skin to make a traditional medicine called ejiao. It is believed to help with fatigue, improve immunity, reduce tumours, and treat anaemia. China's ejiao industry has seen a huge boom. With not enough donkeys at home, Chinese buyers are turning to Pakistan, where donkeys are cheaper and easier to find. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like "후원은 제 삶에서 많은 것을 바꿔놓았어요." 월드비전 더 알아보기 Undo Ejiao demand fuels price hike As per a PTI report, Dr Guo Jing Feng, who runs a medical centre in Karachi, said China's need for donkey hides is only going to increase. 'This is now a global trade,' he explained, 'and China's demand is much higher than its supply.' Even in the Lyari market, Pakistan's biggest donkey market, prices have jumped. Rasheed says the cheapest healthy donkey he could find was Rs 1.55 lakh. 'How can I afford that? Even if I somehow buy one, what if it dies before I recover my investment?' Live Events Livelihood at stake Donkeys are vital for many industries in Pakistan, from brick kilns and agriculture to transport and even laundry services. Workers like Samad use them to carry heavy loads across rough roads, earning Rs 1,500–2,000 a day, half of which goes into feeding and caring for the animal. With around 5.9 million working donkeys, Pakistan is home to the third largest donkey population in the world, after Ethiopia and Sudan. Chinese interest and ethical concerns In April 2025, a Chinese delegation met with Pakistan's food security minister to discuss setting up donkey farms. The idea is to use local labour for care and management, which could help Pakistan's economy. But not everyone agrees. Dr Asal Khan, a senior official from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, said some Chinese companies had shown interest in exporting donkeys, but 'we are not allowing that to happen.' Donkey traders say some Chinese buyers are even willing to purchase weak animals just for their hides. In one case, a group paid Rs 40,000 each for 14 unhealthy donkeys. What about meat concerns? Ethical issues also remain. Saleem Reza of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce says there must be strict rules. 'Donkey meat is haram for us,' he said. 'The government must ensure donkeys are not slaughtered in Pakistan and their meat is not sold illegally.' He added that proper factories are needed to manage hide and meat processing, to make sure nothing enters local markets wrongly. Inputs from PTI
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
‘No time for life': Andhra Pradesh's new 10-hour work rule slammed by employees
The Andhra Pradesh government has decided to raise the maximum working hours from nine to 10 per day in a move that has led to outrage and backlash on social media. This decision from the TDP-led NDA government in Andhra Pradesh will allow private companies and factories to increase their maximum working hours to 10 per day, up one hour from the earlier nine. The decision to increase working hours from 9 to 10 has drawn criticism (Representational image) {{^userSubscribed}} {{^usCountry}} {{/usCountry}} {{#usCountry}} {{/usCountry}} {{/userSubscribed}} {{^userSubscribed}} {{^usCountry}} {{/usCountry}} {{#usCountry}} {{/usCountry}} {{/userSubscribed}} As per a PTI report, the Information and Public Relations (I&PR) Minister K Parthasarathy said that it has been decided to amend labour laws to make them 'favourable' to workers and investors. {{^usCountry}} {{/usCountry}} {{^usCountry}} {{/usCountry}} However, workers on social media struggled to see how increased working hours would be 'favourable' for them. The move has also drawn the ire of trade unions, Criticism of 10 hours per day policy {{^userSubscribed}} {{^usCountry}} {{/usCountry}} {{#usCountry}} {{/usCountry}} {{/userSubscribed}} {{^userSubscribed}} {{^usCountry}} {{/usCountry}} {{#usCountry}} {{/usCountry}} {{/userSubscribed}} {{^usCountry}} On social media, users said that increased work hours would benefit only business owners at the cost of employees. Many were of the opinion that private companies would implement 10 hours as mandatory policy, further affecting work-life balance. {{/usCountry}} {{#usCountry}} On social media, users said that increased work hours would benefit only business owners at the cost of employees. Many were of the opinion that private companies would implement 10 hours as mandatory policy, further affecting work-life balance. {{/usCountry}} {{^usCountry}} 'Good for financial growth. What about mental health? 10 hrs work, 2 hrs travelling, 8 hrs sleep, you have to do everything in left 4 hours,' wrote X user Ankit. {{/usCountry}} {{#usCountry}} 'Good for financial growth. What about mental health? 10 hrs work, 2 hrs travelling, 8 hrs sleep, you have to do everything in left 4 hours,' wrote X user Ankit. {{/usCountry}} {{^usCountry}} 'So the Andhra Pradesh govt thinks longer hours = better productivity? No, it means exploitation. More hours, same pay, worse lives. Workers deserve dignity, not burnout,' X user Supriya opined. {{/usCountry}} {{#usCountry}} 'So the Andhra Pradesh govt thinks longer hours = better productivity? No, it means exploitation. More hours, same pay, worse lives. Workers deserve dignity, not burnout,' X user Supriya opined. {{/usCountry}} {{^usCountry}} Several people said the move will lead to overworked employees who have no time to spend with family. {{/usCountry}} {{#usCountry}} Several people said the move will lead to overworked employees who have no time to spend with family. {{/usCountry}} {{^userSubscribed}} {{^usCountry}} {{/usCountry}} {{#usCountry}} {{/usCountry}} {{/userSubscribed}} {{^userSubscribed}} {{^usCountry}} {{/usCountry}} {{#usCountry}} {{/usCountry}} {{/userSubscribed}} '9 hours of working itself was a lot and they still increased it. Overworking your employees has tickled down effects, people will have no time to spend with their families. AP fertility rate is already falling rapidly & you're disincentivizing people from having/raising kids,' an X user said. {{^userSubscribed}} {{^usCountry}} {{/usCountry}} {{#usCountry}} {{/usCountry}} {{/userSubscribed}} {{^userSubscribed}} {{^usCountry}} {{/usCountry}} {{#usCountry}} {{/usCountry}} {{/userSubscribed}} Others noted how maximum working hours in parts of India are already more than the global average of 8 hours per day. 'The Government is hand in glove with the corrupt corporations that want to exploit cheap labour,' a user said. Dozens of people wondered whether increased working hours would come with an accompanying pay raise. What the AP government says "Because of this (amendments to labour laws), investors in factories will (come to our state). These labour rules will be favourable for labourers and they will come to invest more. Globalisation is happening in every state. These amendments were brought to implement global rules," said Minister K Parthasarathy. {{^userSubscribed}} {{^usCountry}} {{/usCountry}} {{#usCountry}} {{/usCountry}} {{/userSubscribed}} {{^userSubscribed}} {{^usCountry}} {{/usCountry}} {{#usCountry}} {{/usCountry}} {{/userSubscribed}} Further, the minister observed that the cabinet has also relaxed night shift rules to enable more women to work in the night shifts. According to the I&PR Minister, women were not allowed to work in the night shifts earlier but now they can work with safeguards such as consent, transport facility, security and surveillance. Opposition slams move Meanwhile, K Ramakrishna, State Secretary of CPI, opposed the NDA alliance government's stand on labour laws amendments. He alleged that the Central and state governments are working against the interests of workers. "For the past 11 years, the Modi government has repeatedly taken measures that infringe upon workers' rights in India," Ramakrishan told PTI on Saturday. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Chandrababu Naidu looks back at his "most difficult" year, gives a peek into his Amaravati plan
N. Chandrababu Naidu , in an interview to ToI, said he considers his first year as Chief Minister during this fourth term as the most difficult yet. In the conversation with ToI's Robin David and Srikanth Aluri, he highlighted ongoing struggles against what he describes as "economic terrorists." Naidu believes these challenges stem from the previous YSRCP government's alleged mismanagement, which he claims has resulted in significant financial losses for the state. During the interview, Naidu detailed the financial burdens inherited from the last five years of governance. He pointed out the staggering Rs 9,000 crore loss from cancelled power purchase agreements, alongside Rs 55,000 crore wasted in the Polavaram project and further losses in Amaravati . In his view, rebuilding from such setbacks is no small feat. "Not minus 10, it was like minus 100 when I took over," he said, emphasising the scale of the economic challenges. Despite this, Naidu insists that growth is achievable through careful planning and technology. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Play War Thunder now for free War Thunder Play Now Undo Naidu is optimistic about achieving a 15% growth rate over the next 25 years. He believes this can be realised by integrating advanced technology into various sectors, including education and agriculture. "Everything is possible with vision, planning and foolproof execution," he stated, asserting that real-time data could significantly enhance productivity. The aim is to attract investments in defence and aerospace technologies, projecting that these sectors can create numerous job opportunities and boost exports, Naidu said. Live Events Regarding the capital's legal status, Naidu has reached out to the Union government to amend the AP Reorganisation Act to officially designate Amaravati as the state capital. He believes establishing legal sanctity is essential, but he remains committed to combating what he refers to as "evil elements" undermining the state's development. Naidu also expressed concerns about Andhra Pradesh 's representation in Parliament following the delimitation process. He noted that population shifts have affected the state's political standing, urging for a national population management strategy to ensure fair representation. Reflecting on the state's investment strategies, Naidu welcomed the growing competition among Chief Ministers to attract investments, stating, "As long as your brand is strong, people will be with you." He sees this as a positive development for the country. Naidu is keen on collaborating with the Gates Foundation to implement preventive healthcare solutions using artificial intelligence. He said he envisions Amaravati as a model for holistic healthcare, starting with a pilot project in Kuppam before expanding across the state. Naidu's ambitious plans include establishing a Quantum Valley in Amaravati, similar to Silicon Valley in the USA. He emphasised the importance of commercialising technology, especially in defence and aerospace, to stimulate job creation and economic growth. While Naidu acknowledged the need for improved social infrastructure in Amaravati, he assured that efforts are underway to develop the necessary facilities. The aim is to create a thriving ecosystem that benefits the entire region, not just Amaravati, he said.
