Union road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari has said that it has been decided to implement a proposal mandating a minimum of six airbags in passengers cars (M1) category with effect from October next year.
The M1 category refers to vehicles used for the carriage of passengers comprising not more than eight seats in addition to the driver’s seat, according to Parivahan website. The Union government had earlier planned to make six airbags mandatory in passenger vehicles for enhanced safety of occupants from October 1 this year.
“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,” Gadkari tweeted.
In a subsequent tweet, he said that the safety of all passengers travelling in motor vehicles irrespective of their cost and variants is the foremost priority.
On September 14, the Union road transport and highways minister urged automobile manufacturers in India to adopt global safety norms for cars in the country, adding that cooperation from the automobile industry was needed in reducing accidents.
“Majority of automobile manufacturers in India are exporting cars with 6 airbags. But in India, because of the economic model and cost, they are hesitating,” Gadkari said during an annual session of the Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India (ACMA).
Stressing the need to reduce the need of the hour to reduce road accidents, Gadkari highlighted that every year, around five lakh road accidents killed 1.5 lakh people and injured more than three lakh in the country.
