Don't Want To Make 6-Airbag Rule Mandatory For Cars: Nitin Gadkari Ahead Of October 2023 Deadline

"We don't want to make six airbags rule for cars mandatory," Gadkari said at an event. He further said that it is up to the companies to make that decision, several companies are already doing it

Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari on Wednesday said that the government doesn't want to make six airbags mandatory for cars. The comment comes ahead of the proposed deadline for the government's implementation of the six-airbag safety norm, which was scheduled for October 2023 to enhance the safety of vehicle occupants.

"We don't want to make six airbags rule for cars mandatory," Gadkari said at an event in New Delhi. He further said that it is up to the companies to make that decision, several companies are already making cars with 6-airbags. He emphasised that now car owners are more aware of these safety norms and if some company doesn't want to follow them, their sales will be affected. 

He added that because of the Star rating and Bharat NCAP, it is to be sufficient and it is giving a good message to the industry. 

In a statement released last year, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) announced its commitment to bolstering the safety of motor vehicle occupants. To achieve this goal, amendments to the Central Motor Vehicles Rules (CMVR), 1989, were proposed.

Under these amendments, it became mandatory for vehicles manufactured on and after April 1, 2021, to be equipped with airbags for both front seats. An airbag functions as a critical occupant-restraint system, deploying between the driver and the vehicle's dashboard during a collision, effectively mitigating the risk of severe injuries. Initially, the government had intended to mandate six airbags in all eight-seater vehicles for improved safety, with the original deadline set for October 1, 2022. 

In a tweet last year, Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said that the government is postponing the enforcement of the six-airbag safety regulation for passenger cars in the country. The new implementation date is set for October 1, 2023. 

"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 6 Airbags in Passenger Cars (M-1 Category) w.e.f 01st October 2023," he wrote. 

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