In a historic step, the Centre on Tuesday launched the national transport crash testing safety programme Bharat NCAP aimed at improving road safety standards of motor vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes.
To be implemented from October 1, 2023, the Bharat New Car Assessment Programme (Bharat NCAP) is cheaper than tests conducted abroad, Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said.
“Bharat NCAP is India’s own crash testing programme. This is a very important programme....The cost of testing from abroad is `2.5 crore and in India (under) Bharat NCAP it comes to `60 lakh. So there can be a good market...,” Gadkari said.
The programme is applicable to type approved motor vehicles of M1 category less than 3.5T GVW. This is a voluntary programme in which the base variants of a given model will be tested based on Automotive Industry Standard (AIS) 197.
According to the MoRTH statement, the programme aims to create an ecosystem of competitive safety enhancements leading to increased awareness among consumers. Consumers can take an informed decision by making a comparative assessment on vehicle performance under crash test conditions.
“NCAP brings the opportunity to the OEMs to manufacture vehicles of global safety standards. The programme will be anchored by Central Institute of Road Transport (CIRT). This programme has been evolved based on stakeholder consultations,” the Ministry statement said.
“Today is a very important day in the history of the Indian automobile industry but it is also important for society. I really appreciate the way in which the Indian automobile industry cooperates and because of their cooperation today it is a time for all of us that we are launching the Bharat NCAP programme,” Gadkari said addressing the gathering at the event.
He also said there is a huge demand for higher star rating vehicles. “People are cautious about safety, pollution. People want to use different types of fuel. If anywhere there is a new alternative available then they are ready to use,” he said. Gadkari also highlighted that India is facing two important challenges — one is road accidents and another is air pollution, and “in some way our Ministry is responsible for that”.
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India unveils car crash testing programme
He said every year 5 lakh accidents and 1.5 lakh deaths take place in India.
“Every day 1,100 accidents and 400 deaths and every hour 47 accidents and 18 deaths. 70 per cent death is of 18 to 34 years and loss of GDP is 3.14 per cent,” he said.”
Head on collisions killed 27,000 people, while 18,000 died due to side collisions, said the Minister.
Emphasising on saving lives, Gadkari said “this is the time we have highest priority for how we can save the lives of the people and road safety is the most important thing for that”.
“But it is not that only the automobile industry is responsible, somewhere road engineering is a big problem,” he said.
“Now the most important thing which I feel is that the market is not cost centric, but it is quality centric. The automotive market in India has been changing lately with consumer’s focus shifting from being cost-centric to quality-centric,” he said.
“The dream of Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) to make India a 5 trillion economy is the basic backbone of the automobile industry, which is one of the largest employers, biggest export and biggest tax payer sector for the government. This industry is giving maximum GST to the State and the Central Government. He also asserted that the mission is to make India number one in manufacturing hubs in the world.