Minimum 6 Airbags To Be Made Mandatory In Vehicles That Can Carry Up To 8 Passengers: Nitin Gadkari

The Union Minister had previously acknowledged that including additional airbags in small cars will increase their cost by at least Rs 3,000-4,000.

File Photo: Getty Images

New Delhi: Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Friday said that the Union government will make it mandatory for carmakers to provide a minimum of six airbags in motor vehicles that can carry up to 8 passengers for enhanced safety of occupants. 

 The Road Transport and Highways Minister informed about the decision on Twitter, stating that his ministry had already mandated the implementation of fitment of the driver airbag with effect from July 1, 2019 and front co-passenger airbag with effect from January 1, 2022.

“In order to enhance the safety of the occupants in motor vehicles carrying up to 8 passengers, I have now approved a Draft GSR Notification to make a minimum of 6 Airbags compulsory,” Nitin Gadkari tweeted. GSR stands for General Statutory Rules.

He further stated that to minimise the impact of frontal and lateral collisions on the occupants seated in both front and rear compartments, it has been decided that 4 additional airbags be mandated in the M1 vehicle category.

“ ...i.e two side/side torso airbags and two side curtain/tube airbags covering all outboard passengers. This is a crucial step to make motor vehicles in India safer than ever,” he wrote.

According to the Road Transport and Highways Minister, this move will ultimately ensure the safety of passengers across all segments, irrespective of the cost/variant of the vehicle.

As per government data, a total of 1,16,496 road accidents occurred on national highways (NHs), including expressways, in 2020, causing 47,984 deaths.

Last year, in an interview with news agency PTI, Nitin Gadkari had said that small cars, mostly purchased by lower middle-class people, should also have an adequate number of airbags.

He said he wondered why automakers are providing eight airbags only in big cars bought by rich people.

The remarks had come in view of the automobile industry raising concerns that high taxation and stricter safety and emission norms for vehicles have led to their products becoming more expensive. 

He noted that mostly lower middle-class people buy small economy cars and “if their car won’t have airbags and when accidents happen, then it may result in deaths. So, I appeal to all car manufacturers to provide a minimum of six airbags across all variants and segments of the vehicle”.

The Union Minister had acknowledged that including additional airbags in small cars will increase their cost by at least Rs 3,000-4,000.

(With Agency Inputs)