Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Friday announced that the implementation of “the proposal mandating a minimum of six airbags in passenger cars (M-1 category) would be from October 1, 2023.” Earlier it was planned to be implemented from this October.
“Considering the global supply chain constraints being faced by the auto industry and its impact on the macroeconomic scenario, it has been decided to implement the proposal mandating a minimum of six airbags in passenger cars (M-1 Category) w.e.f October 01, 2023,” Gadkari said in a statement released by the Ministry.
The Road Ministry had earlier announced mandatory six airbags from October 1, 2022.
Earlier in September, MoRTH issued draft rules to make it mandatory for car makers to install an alarm system for rear seat belts.
Besides, there has to be a speed alert system to check over-speeding and manual override for the central locking system.
The Government has been considering enforcing the use of rear seatbelts after Cyrus Mistry, the former chairman of Indian conglomerate Tata Sons, died in a car crash recently. He was sitting in the rear seat and did not have his seat belt on, local media reported, citing police officials.
According to the proposal, seat belt reminders or alarms will be mandatory in M and N category vehicles, with an audio-video warning in case the seat belts, including the rear ones, are not worn.
