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India Today
30-07-2025
- Automotive
- India Today
Automobile industry is the most important industry for the country, says Nitin Gadkari
Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari reaffirmed the government's commitment to transforming India's automotive sector into a global benchmark for innovation, safety, and sustainability. Speaking at an event, Gadkari highlighted the critical role of the automobile industry in India's economy while underlining the need for road safety reforms and a cleaner fuel future. "Our automobile industry is the most important industry for the country because this is the industry which is the fourth largest economy," he has now become the third-largest automobile market globally, overtaking Japan, with the industry valued at Rs 22 lakh crore," Gadkari said. He emphasised that the sector employs nearly 4 crore people and contributes the highest share of GST revenue to the exchequer. 'Our mission is to make India the number one automobile hub in the world,' he roads through engineering and education Addressing the pressing issue of road safety, the minister spotlighted the government's multi-pronged approach involving vehicle engineering, road infrastructure, enforcement, and public announced the identification of 77 high-fatality stretches across 15 states as part of the Zero Fatality Corridor initiative. A budget of Rs 40,000 crore is being deployed to eliminate accident-prone black spots on national highways. "We've also enlisted IIT students to conduct road safety audits and are leveraging data to pinpoint the top 100 accident-prone districts," he Bharat NCAP star rating program has already begun fostering healthy competition among automakers to deliver safer vehicles. Additionally, the government is implementing new technologies such as anti-lock braking systems (ABS) for two-wheelers, electronic stability control in heavy vehicles, and advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS). 'These systems can save lives—by preventing collisions, alerting drowsy drivers, and ensuring lane discipline,' Gadkari safety campaign and skilling pushTo instill behavioral change, the ministry has launched the Sadak Suraksha Abhiyan. The initiative, translated into 22 Indian languages, will be amplified through digital also underscored the urgent need to address the shortfall of 22 lakh skilled drivers. A network of 1,600 driver training institutes is being set up with an investment of Rs 4,500 crore to generate 15 lakh fuel and green futureIn his vision for a greener tomorrow, Gadkari reiterated the focus on alternative fuels: ethanol, methanol, bio-CNG, LNG, electric, and hydrogen. "Air pollution from the transport sector contributes to 40% of India's pollution. It's not just an environmental necessity, but an economic challenge,' he is progressing rapidly under the National Green Hydrogen Mission, with trials of hydrogen-powered trucks already underway and nine hydrogen refueling stations being established across the country. The target: 5 million metric tons of green hydrogen production annually by 2030, reducing fossil fuel imports by Rs 1 lakh crore and cutting 50 million metric tons of CO2 waste to wealthadvertisementThe Minister talked about how India is leading in turning waste into opportunity. Municipal waste from Delhi is being used in road construction, and bio-bitumen from agricultural residue is being tested on highways. 'We've reduced the height of the Ghazipur landfill by seven metres by using garbage in infrastructure,' he said.A call to the industryGadkari called upon the industry to continue innovating and collaborate with the government. "We aim to grow this sector from Rs 22 lakh crore to Rs 75 lakh crore. It may be difficult, but it's not impossible. Together, we can make India the global leader in mobility, safety, and sustainability."Subscribe to Auto Today Magazine- EndsTune InMust Watch
Economic Times
23-06-2025
- Automotive
- Economic Times
Just like stocks, TP motor insurance needs risk-based pricing: Dr. Tapan Singhel
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our ETMarkets WhatsApp channel As the Indian insurance industry continues to evolve to meet rising customer expectations and emerging risks, most product categories have adapted to digital third party (TP) motor insurance remains unchanged, despite being a mandatory and high-impact product. It is time we revisit this space and bring it up to date with the realities of today's mobility and risk premiums have remained essentially unchanged, except for a few categories, over the last five years. Leave aside inflation and other elements, the issue is much road safety situation is alarming. Every year, the country witnesses nearly five lakh road accidents, resulting in over one and a half lakh fatalities and leaving more than four lakh citizens injured. (source: MORTH)Despite these figures, third party motor insurance premiums remain fixed based on vehicle category, without factoring in the individual behaviour or history of the one-size-fits-all pricing structure fails to incentivise safe driving and often results in responsible drivers subsidising the riskier must create a more equitable system. De-tariffing third party insurance is not only about ensuring the viability of insurance business models or maintaining sound loss and combined is about building a more responsible, accountable and safety-conscious society. When premiums are based on individual risk, it brings fairness into the equation and encourages people to drive more carefully.A risk-based premium structure would enable insurers to assess factors such as driving history, claim frequency, accident records, and traffic violations when determining an approach would be beneficial for commercial vehicle operators as well. Fleet owners who invest in driver training, follow maintenance protocols and uphold safety standards would be rewarded with lower insurance costs, while others would be nudged to improve their fairness, the wider societal benefits are significant. A system that financially rewards safe driving behaviour could contribute to a tangible reduction in accidents and would ease the pressure on emergency medical services and public health infrastructure. Initiatives like the Zero Fatality Corridor on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway have demonstrated how behavioural and structural interventions can reduce road crash deaths by almost 60 per can play a transformative role. With tools such as GPS tracking, telematics , artificial intelligence-driven driving scores and digital claims histories, insurers can build detailed behavioural profiles for each driver or enables the creation of dynamic pricing models and even reward-based systems linked to performance. Insurance can thereby evolve from being a passive financial product to a proactive instrument for behavioural existing uniform pricing model for TP motor insurance does not reflect the complexity and diversity of road risks in today's world. De-tariffing presents an opportunity to realign pricing with real-world driving patterns and societal is a step towards making roads safer, insurance more personalised, and the system more efficient for all time to make insurance smarter, not only through technology, but also through purpose, where those who drive safely pay less and the benefits ripple across society as a whole.(The author, Dr. Tapan Singhel is MD & CEO at Bajaj Allianz General Insurance : Recommendations, suggestions, views, and opinions given by experts are their own. These do not represent the views of the Economic Times)
Time of India
23-06-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Just like stocks, TP motor insurance needs risk-based pricing: Dr. Tapan Singhel
Live Events As the Indian insurance industry continues to evolve to meet rising customer expectations and emerging risks, most product categories have adapted to digital third party (TP) motor insurance remains unchanged, despite being a mandatory and high-impact product. It is time we revisit this space and bring it up to date with the realities of today's mobility and risk premiums have remained essentially unchanged, except for a few categories, over the last five years. Leave aside inflation and other elements, the issue is much road safety situation is alarming. Every year, the country witnesses nearly five lakh road accidents, resulting in over one and a half lakh fatalities and leaving more than four lakh citizens injured. (source: MORTH)Despite these figures, third party motor insurance premiums remain fixed based on vehicle category, without factoring in the individual behaviour or history of the one-size-fits-all pricing structure fails to incentivise safe driving and often results in responsible drivers subsidising the riskier must create a more equitable system. De-tariffing third party insurance is not only about ensuring the viability of insurance business models or maintaining sound loss and combined is about building a more responsible, accountable and safety-conscious society. When premiums are based on individual risk, it brings fairness into the equation and encourages people to drive more carefully.A risk-based premium structure would enable insurers to assess factors such as driving history, claim frequency, accident records, and traffic violations when determining an approach would be beneficial for commercial vehicle operators as well. Fleet owners who invest in driver training, follow maintenance protocols and uphold safety standards would be rewarded with lower insurance costs, while others would be nudged to improve their fairness, the wider societal benefits are significant. A system that financially rewards safe driving behaviour could contribute to a tangible reduction in accidents and would ease the pressure on emergency medical services and public health infrastructure. Initiatives like the Zero Fatality Corridor on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway have demonstrated how behavioural and structural interventions can reduce road crash deaths by almost 60 per can play a transformative role. With tools such as GPS tracking, telematics , artificial intelligence-driven driving scores and digital claims histories, insurers can build detailed behavioural profiles for each driver or enables the creation of dynamic pricing models and even reward-based systems linked to performance. Insurance can thereby evolve from being a passive financial product to a proactive instrument for behavioural existing uniform pricing model for TP motor insurance does not reflect the complexity and diversity of road risks in today's world. De-tariffing presents an opportunity to realign pricing with real-world driving patterns and societal is a step towards making roads safer, insurance more personalised, and the system more efficient for all time to make insurance smarter, not only through technology, but also through purpose, where those who drive safely pay less and the benefits ripple across society as a whole.(The author, Dr. Tapan Singhel is MD & CEO at Bajaj Allianz General Insurance : Recommendations, suggestions, views, and opinions given by experts are their own. These do not represent the views of the Economic Times)
Time of India
27-05-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Safety upgrade for 15 black spots on NH-48, accidents dip
Pune: As many as 15 high-risk crash locations along Old Mumbai-Pune section of National Highway 48 were transformed under Zero Fatality Corridor (ZFC) initiative as part of pre-monsoon safety intervention. Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) officials said that identification and correction of these black spots was expected to drastically reduce accidents along the corridor. Once known for frequent and often fatal crashes, the highway is now being repositioned as a model of evidence-led, multi-agency road safety transformation. "We are not just building roads, we are building safer journeys," said Anilkumar Gaikwad, vice-chairman and managing director, MSRDC. The joint effort was led by Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), SaveLIFE Foundation, Maharashtra Highway Police, and Highways Infrastructure Trust, officials told TOI on Tuesday. "This initiative demonstrates the power of collaboration, data, and engineering in saving lives on our highways," Gaikwad said. Through data-driven interventions and collaborative implementation of engineering solutions, we are committed to reducing fatalities and making our roads safer for every user," he told TOI. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 그랜저 신차장기렌트, 2년 타보고 결정하세요 카테일러 더 알아보기 Undo This initiative reflects our ongoing dedication to building not just better roads but safer ones, he added. The project focused on engineering upgrades at 15 crash-prone locations — from Ladkat Petrol Pump near Somatane Toll Plaza to stretches near Mahanagar Gas — addressing key safety risks such as poor visibility, unsafe intersections, high-speed merging, and pedestrian vulnerability. Key intervention points included Wadgaon Phata, Kamshet Ghat section, Shilatane Phata, and Khalapur junction, among others. These sites were treated with a mix of median gap closures, improved signage, speed-calming measures, and pedestrian safety enhancements, such as designated crossing zones and barricading. In addition to civil works, the project deployed speed detection cameras and automatic violation monitoring system to crack down on reckless driving. Maharashtra Highway Police officials reported noticeable improvements in driver behaviour following installation of enforcement technologies and upgraded signage. "The presence of automated systems has not only deterred overspeeding, but enabled real-time tracking of violations," said an official, adding that enforcement became significantly more efficient. Crucially, the project also prioritised institutionalisation of these interventions through capacity-building and establishment of strong operational partnerships between different govt agencies. This approach not only enabled immediate improvements but also laid the groundwork for sustaining and scaling the ZFC model across other high-fatality corridors in India, stated SaveLIFE Foundation. In the old Mumbai Pune highway section of NH48, there was 67% reduction in fatalities from 269 in 2018 to 88 in 2024. The fatality numbers for 2025 are currently being verified. On the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, there was a reduction in fatalities in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024. There were 24 fatalities in 2024 as against 6 in 2025. "Buoyed by these results, MSRDC plans to extend ZFC initiative to other high-fatality corridors across Maharashtra," said officials. "We are establishing a scalable, data-driven blueprint for road safety that can be replicated across India." The Zero Fatality Corridor (ZFC) initiative on the Old Mumbai Pune Highway (NH48), implemented by Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) and Highway Police Maharashtra and SaveLIFE Foundation in partnership with Highways Infrastructure Trust, has demonstrated remarkable success in enhancing road safety outcomes. Initial comparative analysis of crash data revealed a 51% reduction in road crash fatalities between January and March 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, highlighting the efficacy of SaveLIFE Foundation's evidence-driven interventions.
Hindustan Times
12-05-2025
- Automotive
- Hindustan Times
NGO implements safety measures on 15 high-risk spots on Mumbai-Pune highway
Mumbai: To reduce accident risk and increase safety on the old Mumbai-Pune Highway, SaveLIFE Foundation, in collaboration with the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation Limited (MSRDC), the Maharashtra Highway Police and the Highways Infrastructure Trust, initiated implementation of road safety measures on May 7. The measures are to be implemented at 15 fatality-prone locations along the section of NH-48 (Old Mumbai- Pune Highway). The initiative is part of SaveLIFE's Zero Fatality Corridor project that was started in 2018 for enhancing road engineering and emergency response to tackle the root causes of accidents and fatalities. According to Highway police statistics, Mumbai-Pune highway witnessed 88 fatalities in 2024. A detailed assessment of road conditions was conducted through a combination of field surveys and data analysis by SaveLife Foundation. They identified high-risk or critical locations that pose a threat of road crashes or unsafe traffic behaviour. Following the analysis, targeted road engineering solutions known as safety treatments, were rolled out to tackle the root causes of accidents and crashes. These include better signage, speed-calming measures, improved visibility, safer infrastructure for pedestrians and redesigned junctions aimed at preventing collisions and saving lives. Dr Zafar Khan, executive director and joint CEO of Highways Infrastructure Trust said, 'Maharashtra recorded over 15,000 road crash fatalities last year, the majority of them on highways—a stark reminder of the urgent need for systemic interventions.' He further added that as part of our commitment to safer roads for all, Highways Infrastructure Trust has partnered with SaveLIFE Foundation to implement targeted safety measures along a high-risk stretch of the Old Mumbai- Pune Highway. 'Together, we are introducing speed-calming measures, improving pedestrian crossing visibility, and reinforcing lane discipline, with an aim to reduce fatalities on the corridor by 20 to 30 percent over the coming years. We believe that road safety must be engineered by design and are confident that this collaborative model will deliver measurable, replicable impact,' he said. The Highway police also took enforcement measures to improve compliance with traffic laws by preventing violations and encouraging safer road user behaviour. Piyush Tewari, Founder and CEO of SaveLIFE Foundation, said: 'This initiative demonstrates what is possible when data, engineering, and strong partnerships come together for road safety. We are grateful to the MSRDC, Maharashtra Highway Police and Highways Infrastructure Trust for helping us implement life-saving solutions on one of Maharashtra's busiest highways.'
