Along with better road engineering, increased public awareness has brought about improvement in road safety in the country.

India aims to achieve zero road fatalities by 2030 by providing better designs for roads and creating awareness among people, Union Minister for Road Transport, Highways and MSMEs, Nitin Gadkari said while addressing Indo-Australian Chamber of Commerce in a virtual format on Wednesday.

“Along with better road engineering, increased public awareness has brought about improvement in road safety,” he said, adding that upgradation of road infrastructure will bring about 50 per cent reduction in road accidents.

The Union Minister said India and Australia are already co-operating in the road safety sector and this cooperation has provided better designs for roads and awareness opportunities for the public.

He informed the participants that under Indian road safety assessment programme, 21000 km roads have been assessed and about 3000 km road length is under technological upgradation.

He called for increased investment by international institutions and bodies in Indian highways and MSME sector. He also said that automobiles and MSME are the two growth engines of Indian economy.