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Time of India
16-05-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Maharashtra govt MoU with Mercedes Benz India for road safety
Mercedes-Benz India, in collaboration with the Maharashtra government and SaveLife Foundation, has launched a road safety project on the Samruddhi Highway MUMBAI: It is certainly a welcome development that Mercedes-Benz India is collaborating with the Maharashtra government on a major road safety project focused on the Samruddhi Highway through its CSR initiative, which is proving to be a model at the national level. Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed his belief that its successful implementation has paved the way for the model to be implemented on other high-risk roads in Maharashtra. Welcoming the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with Mercedes-Benz India through SaveLife Foundation as a partnership on the road safety project on Samruddhi Highway, the Chief Minister said that approximately 10 lakh vehicles travel on this highway every day. In that regard, road safety on this highway is of utmost importance. Therefore, it is a matter of joy that Mercedes-Benz India, a leader in the automotive industry and safety, wants to take the initiative and contribute significantly to this effort. Samruddhi Highway is an ambitious project of the Maharashtra government and is an expressway connecting Maharashtra and serving as a lifeline for commerce, tourism, and daily travel for thousands of people. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Her body cannot endure this level of pain; please help her. Donate For Health Learn More Undo The work on this highway connecting ten districts has been completed at a fast pace and has provided a very useful facility for fast travel in a short time. The entire work on the 701 km Samruddhi Highway has been completed. The first phase from Nagpur to Shirdi (520 km) was opened for traffic on 11 December 2022, and the second phase from Shirdi to Bharveer (80 km) was opened for traffic on 26 May 2023. The third phase from Bharveer to Igatpuri (25 km) was opened for traffic on 4 March 2024, and the remaining 76 km from Igatpuri to Amne (Tal. Bhiwandi, Dist. Thane) is planned to be opened for traffic soon. Mercedes-Benz India, as a responsible corporate citizen, committed to its values of safety, in collaboration with SaveLife Foundation (SLF) and Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), has launched the road safety initiative " Zero Death Highway on Samruddhi Highway" (ZFC) in March 2024. The initiative will be implemented until 2026. This is a major project being implemented on the 701 km long Mumbai–Nagpur highway, in which measures based on the "four Es of road safety" – Engineering, Enforcement, Emergency Care and Education – are being implemented. This has resulted in a 29 percent reduction in accidental deaths (151 deaths in 2023, 107 in 2024). Similarly, this initiative has identified critical fatality zones (HFZs), and 39 percent of deaths have occurred in just 17 percent of the highway length (till December 2024). For safe travel, continuous safety audits, measures and emergency service improvements are being implemented through multi-agency coordination, and a key component is coordination and partnership, in which cooperation is being taken through seven consultation meetings with Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), Police, Health Department.
Time of India
14-05-2025
- Time of India
Shocking toll: 436 deaths on road in Nagpur rural in 2024
1 2 Nagpur: With 436 deaths and 408 fatal crashes recorded in 2024 alone, Nagpur (Rural) emerged as one of the deadliest districts on India's road safety map. In response to the rising fatalities, the SaveLife Foundation , in partnership with Volvo Cars' philanthropic initiative 'Volvo For Life Fund', launched an ambitious programme aimed at eliminating preventable road crash deaths in the district. The effort is part of the ongoing zero fatality district (ZFD) campaign, aligned with the UN Global Road Safety Week analysis of crash data revealed that speeding accounted for 18.5% of fatal crashes, making it the single most significant cause. In addition, 7.96% of fatalities were linked to unsafe pedestrian behaviour, such as jaywalking, crossing at undesignated spots, and a lack of awareness of traffic rules. The study further underlined that wrong-side driving contributed to 5.39% of accidents, followed by 4.45% of crashes caused by parked figures point to an urgent need for targeted interventions not only to enforce safer driving practices but also to improve pedestrian infrastructure and awareness. Authorities say these patterns highlight systemic issues that go beyond individual behaviour, calling for a holistic and sustained minister for road transport and highways and city MP Nitin Gadkari consistently emphasised the importance of reducing road accidents in India. He stated, "If we wait till 2030, 6-7 lakh more people will die. So, we've made a commitment that in the coming years, road accidents and deaths due to it will be brought down by 50% with the help of people's participation."The Zero Fatality District model being implemented in Nagpur (Rural) is already active in 20 other districts across India. Built on a foundation of the four key pillars of road safety — Engineering, Emergency Care, Enforcement, and Education — the model aims to bring long-term impact by embedding road safety into local govt systems. The approach involves identifying high-risk areas, redesigning road infrastructure, improving emergency response, and educating road users, especially in vulnerable categories such as pedestrians, cyclists, and two-wheeler the support of Volvo For Life Fund, the partnership is deploying a range of evidence-based interventions in Nagpur (Rural). These include enforcing speed limits, enhancing visibility with reflective road markings, treating dangerous highway medians and access points, and installing traffic calming measures and improved signage. Special attention is being given to pedestrian safety by developing safer crossings and Cars, known globally for its emphasis on safety innovation, said it is committed to saving lives both inside and outside vehicles. Louise Thompson, head, Volvo Cars For Life Fund, said the collaboration aims to convert high-risk zones into safe and walkable stretches. SaveLife Foundation founder and CEO Piyush Tewari said India's annual toll of over 1.7 lakh road deaths amounts to a public health crisis, and data-driven, grassroots-led solutions like the ZFD model offer a practical path toward reversing the trend. The ongoing initiative in Nagpur (Rural) is expected to serve as a blueprint for similar efforts in other high-fatality districts across the country.
