Latest news with #MinistryofRoadTransportandHighways
India Today
an hour ago
- Automotive
- India Today
Combi brakes vs ABS: Which system is best for your bike?
When it comes to motorcycle safety, braking systems play a critical role in preventing accidents and ensuring rider control. Two popular braking technologies: Combi Brakes and Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) have become focal points. But which system offers the best performance, safety, and value? Let's break it brakes: AffordableThe Combined Braking System (CBS), also known as linked brakes, is designed to distribute braking force between the front and rear wheels when the rider applies either brake. This technology is commonly found on entry-level of CBS: Affordability: CBS is less expensive to implement, keeping bike prices of use: Ideal for beginners, as it simplifies braking by automatically engaging both stability: Reduces the risk of skidding by balancing braking force, particularly on scooters and commuter control in extreme conditions, such as wet or slippery effective at high speeds or during aggressive braking compared to Advanced SafetyAnti-lock Braking System (ABS) allows one to steer away from obstacles as it prevents wheel lock-up during sudden braking, maintaining traction and allowing riders to steer while slowing down. Mandatory for bikes above 125cc in many countries, ABS is standard on premium and performance-oriented motorcycles. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) recently announced that from January 1, 2026, all new two-wheelers sold in India, irrespective of engine capacity, must come equipped with Anti-lock Braking Systems (ABS). Currently, ABS is mandatory only for two-wheelers with engine capacities above benefits of ABS:Superior safety: Prevents skids and maintains control, especially in emergencies or adverse performance: Ideal for high-speed riding or sport bikes, offering precise Works effectively on diverse terrains, from wet roads to Cost: ABS increases the bike's price, which may deter budget-conscious More complex systems can lead to higher repair Should You Choose?For urban commuters and new riders, CBS offers a practical, budget-friendly solution that enhances safety without breaking the bank. However, for those riding at higher speeds, on challenging terrains, or prioritising maximum control, ABS is the clear motorcycles evolve, the choice between CBS and ABS will depend on your riding style, experience, and the roads you travel. Whether you're zipping through city traffic or carving through mountain roads, picking the right braking system can make all the to Auto Today Magazine- Ends
The Print
a day ago
- The Print
Fauja Singh's death shows Indian roads remain a national emergency—474 lives lost every day
The incident has once again brought into focus one of India's long-standing and recurring concerns: road safety and the lack of traffic discipline. Public safety and road behaviour are as much a reflection of India as its geopolitical standing or economic indicators. That is why India's ongoing road safety crisis is ThePrint's Newsmaker of the Week. The driver, 26-year-old non-resident Indian (NRI) Amritpal Singh Dhillon, has been arrested. Singh, a widely admired personality, was crossing the road in his village in Jalandhar when Dhillon ran him over with his Toyota Fortuner. Delhi : Veteran marathon runner Fauja Singh died at the age of 114. It was not an age-related death, but an accident. Singh was hit by a speeding car on the Jalandhar-Pathankot highway on 14 July. It was only last year that India witnessed one of the most horrific accidents in recent memory — the Pune Porsche case. A 17-year-old boy, driving his parents' Porsche while allegedly intoxicated, mowed down two people riding a motorcycle. The incident sparked further outrage when the Juvenile Justice Board granted him bail within hours, imposing lenient conditions like writing a 300-word essay on road safety, attending counselling at an alcohol de-addiction centre, and assisting traffic police for 15 days. A year later — and coincidentally a day after Singh's death — the board rejected the Pune city police's plea to try him as an adult. Also read: Pimpri Chinchwad shows how to put people before vehicles. It's a model for urban India Sharp rise in road accidents in India According to Ministry of Road Transport and Highways data, hit-and-run cases in India have risen sharply — from 53,334 in 2014 to 67,387 in 2022. In 2023 alone, over 172,000 people died in road accidents — amounting to 474 deaths each day, or nearly one every three minutes. Of these, 54,000 people died because they were not wearing helmets, and 16,000 because they were not wearing seat belts. These numbers are a stark reminder of how deadly Indian roads remain. In December last year, Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari said these accidents were happening because people lack respect and fear for the law. 'There are many reasons for accidents, but the biggest reason is human behaviour,' Gadkari had said. Every year, there is news about the government working to identify and rectify black spots — stretches of road known for frequent accidents — and launching campaigns asking citizens to take road safety pledges. According to a 2021 notification by the Government of India, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways identified 5,803 black spots on National Highways across 30 states and Union Territories, based on accident and fatality data from 2015 to 2018. Of these, temporary safety measures were implemented at 5,366 spots, while 3,215 had been permanently rectified, the ministry said. Also read: Traffic safety doesn't have to depend on CCTVs. New satellite tech is changing the game Overcrowded roads, apathetic public Road accidents also highlight how Indian roads are used — and mismanaged. Most roads are overcrowded, with motorised vehicles like cars, autos, and two-wheelers jostling for space alongside bicycles, carts, and rickshaws. Hawkers often occupy sidewalks, and haphazard parking narrows the usable road space even further. A report by Down to Earth links rising road fatalities to India's mobility systems. According to the report, over 90 vehicles are registered every minute, and more than 88 per cent of these are private cars or two-wheelers. One positive example comes from Kolkata, which has taken some proactive measures for road safety by implementing scientifically backed speed limits, capping vehicle speeds at 50 km/hr in urban areas and even lower in high-risk zones. Whether such measures, if applied to other cities, will yield results remains to be seen. But road accidents are not only taking lives — they are also affecting the country's GDP. In March, Gadkari said that India loses 3 per cent of its GDP due to around five lakh road accidents every year. He made these remarks while addressing AMCHAM's conference on Technology Interventions for road safety: US-India Partnership. Gadkari also criticised Detailed Project Report (DPR) consultants for poor planning and execution. 'DPR consultants are the main culprits who are responsible for the road accidents. (They prepare DPRs) sometimes because of cost-saving, other different reasons and non-serious approach,' Gadkari said. But ultimately, as Gadkari says, it's human behaviour that can bring real change. (Edited by Prashant)
United News of India
2 days ago
- Business
- United News of India
NHs network is now second-largest road network in the world: Harsh Malhotra
New Delhi, July 18 (UNI) Minister of State for Transport & Highways Harsh Malhotra today said that India's national highways network has expanded significantly from 91,000 km in 2014 to over 1.46 lakh km today, making it the second-largest road network in the world. Addressing the Road and Highways Summit here, Malhotra emphasised that these modern highways are not just roads they are lifelines of progress, connecting people, industries and opportunities, an official statement said. "By expanding the network, the government has redefined the very experience of travel -- making it faster, safer and significantly more comfortable for every citizen," he said. He said that the government's spending on road infrastructure has increased 6.4 times between 2013–14 and 2024–25, with a 57 per cent rise in the budget allocation for the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. This, he said reflects the government's unwavering commitment to connectivity, mobility and economic growth. The Minister also stated that in recent years road infrastructure has created 45 crore man-days of direct employment, 57 crore man-days of indirect employment and 532 crore man-days of induced employment which demonstrates the substantial impact of infrastructure projects on job creation across various sectors. Malhotra also stated that more than 10,000 km of National Highways constructed in North Eastern Region during the past decade, which demonstrates the government's commitment to the region. He also highlighted the Delhi Decongestion Plan, which aims to reduce the traffic congestion and pollution in the city and would improve connectivity in the city. The plan includes extension of Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway (NE-5) from KMPE till UER-II (NH-344M) in Delhi and Haryana, Extension of UER-II (NH-344M) near Alipur till Delhi-Dehradun Expressway (NH-709B) near Tronica City in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh, construction of a road tunnel starting from Dwarka Expressway (near Shiv Murti Mahipalpur) to Nelson Mandela Marg, Vasant Kunj. He said the the Ministry is in process of developing 700+ Wayside Amenities (WSAs) by 2028-29 that offer clean restrooms, quality food, rest areas, fuel stations, and EV charging points. Stating that the Ministry was according top priority to the road safety said, "14000 accident prone blackspots have been rectified. Minister also applauded the successful implementation of schemes like the good samaritan scheme and the cashless golden hour scheme". The Minister further stated that with initiatives like the Green Highways Policy and 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam', the Ministry has planted over 4.78 crore trees and transplanted around 70,000 trees along national highways. He said that the Ministry has also adopted sustainable construction practices including the use of over 80 lakh tonnes of plastic waste in major projects such as UER-II and the Ahmedabad–Dholera Expressway. Additionally, fly ash from thermal power plants is being incorporated into highway construction, reducing the need for raw materials and lowering emissions. "The construction of more highways is pivotal to achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047. Every rupee invested in highway development yields a threefold return to the GDP, unlocks vast employment opportunities and opens multiple channels for revenue generation and the government is not just building roads— it is laying the foundation for a prosperous, peaceful, and resilient Bharat," he added. UNI RBE PRS
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Indian Express
Delhi News Live Updates: Fourth day in row, bomb threats hit several schools in Capital
Delhi News Live Updates: For the fourth consecutive day multiple schools in Delhi received bomb threats via emails on Friday morning, prompting authorities to conduct search operations on the premises. 'Teams of multiple agencies are present, and thorough checking is ongoing. However, nothing suspicious has been found yet,' an official said. Centre suspends 9 scrapping units over violations: Mismatches in the generation of certificates of deposit (COD) and vehicle scrapping, and non-compliance with the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) guidelines have been flagged as the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) suspended nine Registered Vehicle Scrapping Facilities (RVSFs) from participating in the government auctions.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
Maruti Baleno, Ertiga now get six airbags as standard across all variants
In a move that strengthens its commitment to vehicle safety, Maruti Suzuki has rolled out a crucial upgrade across its two popular offerings — the Baleno and Ertiga. Both models will now feature six airbags as standard, covering every variant in their respective line-ups. This update not only aligns with upcoming safety norms but also signals a shift in how mass-market cars are being positioned with safety as a priority. The decision has also prompted a moderate increase in prices for both vehicles across India. Safety Comes First Across All Variants Maruti Suzuki has officially announced that six airbags will now be included as standard across all variants of both the Baleno hatchback and the Ertiga MPV. This move brings the models in line with the company's broader safety roadmap and anticipates the government's upcoming mandate requiring six airbags in all new passenger cars by October 2025. With this update, Maruti continues to expand its safety coverage from premium to mid-range and entry-level vehicles, reflecting changing expectations among Indian buyers. Moderate Price Revisions Post-Upgrade Alongside the safety enhancement, the company has made modest revisions to pricing. The Baleno now starts at ₹6.70 lakh and goes up to ₹9.92 lakh, ex-showroom, while the Ertiga's new price range is between ₹8.96 lakh and ₹13.25 lakh. The adjustments represent a price increase of up to 0.5% for the Baleno and up to 1.4% for the Ertiga. Despite the hike, the added value through enhanced safety features is likely to appeal to safety-conscious buyers. Aligning With Upcoming Safety Mandates This upgrade comes as part of Maruti Suzuki's ongoing effort to comply with evolving safety norms set by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. The ministry has stated that by October 2025, all new passenger vehicles sold in the country must be equipped with six airbags as standard. Maruti's early adoption of this requirement positions it favourably in the market and gives consumers access to enhanced protection ahead of the regulatory deadline. Broader Safety Expansion Across Maruti Portfolio In recent months, Maruti has made consistent efforts to offer improved safety features across its entire vehicle line-up. The six-airbag standard is no longer limited to high-end models. It has been extended to entry-level cars such as the Alto K10, WagonR, Celerio, and Eeco, especially within the Arena portfolio. The rollout has also reached Nexa offerings, reflecting a company-wide shift in strategy focused on safer mobility. Market Context And Sales Snapshot While the company has introduced positive developments in vehicle safety, it has simultaneously faced market pressures. Maruti Suzuki reported a 6% year-on-year decline in total sales for June 2025, with 1.68 lakh units sold compared to 1.79 lakh in June 2024. Domestic passenger vehicle sales witnessed a sharper dip, down 13% to 1.19 lakh units. Despite this, the brand remains focused on long-term quality and safety improvements, which could bolster consumer confidence going forward. Consumer Impact And Industry Direction The decision to standardise six airbags in models like the Baleno and Ertiga will likely influence consumer choices, especially for families and first-time buyers. Safety has increasingly become a key factor in purchasing decisions, with awareness growing steadily in both urban and semi-urban markets. Maruti's latest step may also put pressure on other manufacturers to accelerate similar safety offerings in their entry-level and mid-range segments, driving industry-wide change.
