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Flagging a large spread successful road information enforcement, a parliamentary committee has recommended the instauration of a dedicated National Highway Safety Patrol to amended mishap response, enforce postulation subject and support roadworthy assets crossed the country’s expanding road network.
The proposal comes against the backdrop of India signaling astir 4.73 lakh roadworthy accidents and 1.70 lakh fatalities successful 2024, with the National Highways unsocial accounting for implicit 52,600 deaths, according to the Transport Research Wing of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
“The Committee recommends that the Ministry analyse the feasibility of establishing a dedicated National Highway Safety Patrol, drafting upon palmy organization models specified arsenic the Railway Protection Force which has demonstrated effectiveness successful plus extortion and rider information crossed the railway network,” according to a study of the Parliamentary Standing Committee connected Transport, Tourism and Culture chaired by JD(U) MP Sanjay K. Jha, which was tabled successful Parliament connected Wednesday (March 25, 2026).
According to the panel, adjacent a aviator rollout connected high-accident corridors and expressways could importantly amended real-time effect during the “golden hour” (the captious archetypal 60 minutes aft a terrible traumatic injury), enforce velocity and lane subject connected access-controlled roads, and deter encroachments and harm to road infrastructure. The patrol would besides complement integer enforcement systems being deployed nether the Intelligent Traffic Management System.
‘Dedicated mechanics needed’
“The Committee is of the presumption that the contiguous dependence connected State Police forces, whose jurisdiction and priorities widen good beyond road safety, is insufficient for the standard of the National Highway network, and a dedicated organization mechanics warrants superior consideration,” the study stated.
Separately, the Committee flagged gaps successful the government’s attack to achromatic spot remediation, noting the lack of information to verify whether antecedently treated accident-prone locations stay safe.
The sheet recommended instituting a structured post-rectification information audit for each treated achromatic spots. Locations wherever mishap rates bash not autumn to acceptable levels should beryllium reclassified for much precocious engineering interventions, specified arsenic people separation oregon geometric realignment, it said.
