New Delhi, Mar 6 (Reporter) Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Thursday emphasised the urgent need for better road safety measures and called upon the road construction industry to develop strategies that improve safety by adopting new technologies and sustainable recyclable construction materials. Speaking after inaugurating the two-day Global Road Infratech Summit & Expo (GRIS) with the theme “Vision Zero: Sustainable Infratech and Policy for Safer Roads,” Gadkari observed that most of the road accidents that happen in the country are due to poor civil engineering practices in road design, construction, and management and improper road signages and marking systems, an official statement said. He suggested that they can be rectified by emulating what is being practiced in countries like Spain, Austria, and Switzerland. India witnessed 4,80,000 road accidents, 1,80,000 deaths, and about 4,00,000 serious injuries. Out of these, 1,40,000 accident deaths are in the age of 18-45 years and affect mostly two-wheeler riders and pedestrians. These accidents contribute to an economic loss of three percent to GDP, Gadkari noted. Holding engineers largely responsible for the rise in road accidents due to poor planning and design of roads, Gadkari also pointed to substandard detailed project reports (DPRs). With road safety a top priority, the government aims to reduce accident rates by 50 percent by 2030, he added. The minister urged the industry and government to collaborate in finding solutions to prevent road accidents, emphasising the importance of education in building safer infrastructure and promoting awareness of safer driving habits. He also highlighted the need for stronger law enforcement and responsive emergency medical services. The summit being organised by the International Road Federation-India Chapter (IRF-IC) is crafted to inspire innovation, showcase cutting-edge solutions from industry providers, foster knowledge exchange, and open valuable networking opportunities for experts and decision-makers from government bodies and private organisations. The summit, through the conference-cum-expo mode, aims to deliver a holistic experience that educates, inspires, and drives progress in the industry by seamlessly blending the formats,” said KK Kapila, President Emeritus, International Road Federation (IRF), a global road safety body working for better and safer roads worldwide...////...