
With this Open Letter I want to write about Roads related corruption in the country.
With some fun elements I would like to write about Roadways related corruption and Ghotala in the country.
Here is an article about Road safety in India.
Here are some stats for Road related Scams in India :
India has witnessed several road-related scams in recent times, highlighting issues of corruption and substandard construction practices. Notable instances include:
Meghalaya Road Project Scam
In October 2024, the Meghalaya government initiated a police investigation into a multi-crore scam involving contractors and state engineers in road construction. An FIR named nine individuals, including senior state engineers and officials from private companies in Telangana and Haryana, alleging collusion that led to significant financial losses for the public exchequer.
Pune Ring Road Project Allegations
In October 2024, the Congress party accused the BJP-led Maharashtra government of inflating costs in the Pune Ring Road project to favor certain companies. The alleged scam is valued at approximately ₹10,000 crore.
Maharashtra Substandard Road Construction
In June 2023, villagers in Maharashtra’s Jalna district exposed substandard road construction by lifting a newly built road with their hands. The road, part of the Prime Minister Gram Sadak Yojana, was allegedly constructed using inferior materials, leading to its easy displacement. This incident highlighted potential corruption and negligence by the contractor involved.
National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) Scams
Reports have surfaced about various fraudulent activities within the NHAI, including corruption and mismanagement in road construction projects. These scams have adversely affected the quality and safety of national highways, leading to public concern over the misuse of taxpayer funds.
E-Challan Phishing Scams
In November 2024, the government issued alerts about a rise in e-challan phishing scams. Cybercriminals impersonated the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways’ official e-challan portal, sending fraudulent messages to unsuspecting citizens to extract personal and financial information.
Journalist’s Death Linked to Road Construction Scam
In January 2025, journalist Mukesh Chandrakar was found dead in a septic tank in Chhattisgarh. His death is suspected to be connected to his investigative reporting on a road construction scam in Bijapur. This incident underscores the risks faced by journalists exposing corruption in infrastructure projects.
These incidents highlight the ongoing challenges of corruption and fraud in India’s road construction and transport sectors, emphasizing the need for increased transparency, accountability, and oversight to ensure public funds are utilized effectively and infrastructure projects meet required standards.
The point of this article is that more and more Urbanization and Roads are getting constructed but road safety is at very bad levels.
Here are some stats related with Road Safety in India & Worldwide :
Road safety remains a critical concern both globally and within India.
Global Road Safety Statistics:
- Annual Fatalities: Approximately 1.19 million people die each year due to road traffic accidents worldwide. who.int
- Leading Cause of Death: Road traffic injuries are the leading cause of death for individuals aged 5-29 years. who.int
- Vulnerable Road Users: Over half of all road traffic deaths involve pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. who.int
Road Safety in India:
- Global Share of Fatalities: India accounts for about 11% of global road traffic deaths, the highest in the world. morth.nic.in
- Annual Deaths: In 2021, official statistics reported 153,972 fatalities due to road crashes in India. morth.nic.in
- Primary Causes: Over-speeding is a significant factor, contributing to 75.2% of road traffic deaths, followed by driving on the wrong side (5.8%) and driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs (2.5%). drishtiias.com
Initiatives and Goals:
- UN Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021–2030: The United Nations has set an ambitious target to reduce road traffic deaths and injuries by at least 50% by 2030. who.int
- India’s Commitment: Aligning with the global agenda, the Government of India aims to halve road fatalities and injuries by 2030. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has adopted a multi-pronged approach focusing on Education, Engineering (of roads and vehicles), Enforcement, and Emergency Care to achieve this goal. pib.gov.in
These stats shows the urgent need for comprehensive road safety measures to protect all road users.
On Funny Note the way People in India drive their vehicles in India there is no need of roads in India. If there are no roads there are no accidents. 🙂
Road Rage Stats in India :
Road rage, encompassing aggressive driving behaviors such as rash driving, has become an increasing concern in India over recent years. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has reported a significant rise in incidents:
- 2019: Approximately 155,000 cases
- 2020: Approximately 183,000 cases
- 2021: Approximately 215,000 cases
This upward trend indicates a growing issue on Indian roads.
The increase in road rage incidents contributes to the broader problem of road safety in India. In 2022, the country reported 461,312 road accidents, resulting in 168,491 fatalities and 443,366 injuries.
Addressing road rage is crucial for enhancing road safety. Efforts to mitigate this issue include stricter enforcement of traffic regulations, public awareness campaigns, and promoting courteous driving behaviors.
These road rage stats show that roads are really becoming a safety issue in India. Crossing a road is as difficult as passing a 10th board exam, isn’t it ?
Conclusion :
Under PM Narendra Modi’s BJP government, transparency has improved significantly. However, the alarming rise in road rage incidents makes Indian roads increasingly dangerous, demanding urgent action to ensure public safety.
Potholes on Indian roads have been a significant concern due to their contribution to road accidents, injuries, and fatalities. Here’s an overview of the statistics over recent years:
Accidents and Fatalities Due to Potholes:
- 2013: 9,699 accidents, resulting in 2,607 deaths. pib.gov.in
- 2014: 11,106 accidents, leading to 3,039 fatalities. pib.gov.in
- 2015: 10,876 accidents, causing 3,416 deaths. pib.gov.in
- 2016: 6,424 accidents, with 2,324 fatalities. savelifefoundation.org
- 2017: 4,869 accidents, resulting in 3,597 deaths. savelifefoundation.org
- 2018: 4,775 accidents, leading to 2,015 fatalities. indiatimes.com
- 2019: 4,896 accidents, causing 2,140 deaths. indiatimes.com
- 2020: 3,564 accidents, with 1,471 fatalities. indiatimes.com
- 2021: 3,625 accidents, resulting in 1,481 deaths. english.mathrubhumi.com
- 2022: Over 4,400 accidents attributed to potholes. statista.com
These statistics highlight the persistent issue of pothole-related accidents in India. While there was a notable decrease in accidents and fatalities in 2020, possibly due to reduced vehicular movement during the COVID-19 pandemic, the numbers remain concerning. Addressing this issue requires consistent road maintenance, timely pothole repairs, and improved infrastructure planning to enhance road safety across the country.
So this is how roads are very dangerous in India and PM Modi and their BJP Government can take good steps to educate people on safe driving and on reducing Road Rage in India.
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