New Delhi: India records at least 400,000 road accidents every year, federal Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari informed the country’s parliament on July 28.
The accidents claim at least 150,000 lives, the minister said in the Lok Sabha (people’s council), the lower house, during the Question Hour.
The past three years saw a 4 percent annual increase in accidents. The country witnesses 22 percent growth in automobile sector every year.
Gadkari also said there are around 30 percent bogus driving licenses in circulation in the country, The Hindu reported.
He said efforts have been made to make the road travel safe so that the number of deaths in the accidents comes down to half.
The ministry has for the first time conducted a survey of bridges in the country. As on July 21, bridges inventory and condition survey of 162,000 bridges including 126,233 culverts has been carried out. A total 147 bridges were found under distress condition.
The minister also said 33 bridges are in very dilapidated conditions while around 50 bridges are above 100 years old and 1,628 bridges are more than 50 years old.
Concerned executive agencies have already been asked to undertake repairs, rehabilitation and reconstruction of all such bridges after detailed condition survey, he said.