Nitin Gadkari Hint Towards New Laws
Nitin Gadkari, the Minister of Road, Transport and Highways (MoRTH), is well-known for his commitment to the growth and expansion of the Indian automobile industry, as well as for establishing some lofty goals. Whether it’s 100 percent electrification, the adoption of alternative fuels like CNG or ethanol, or the regularisation of pollution standards, Gadkari has been outspoken on these issues and has taken measures toward reaching his goals. His next move is to make Indian automobiles even safer, thus after mandating the installation of two airbags in all four-wheelers, the minister is now proposing to compel the installation of six airbags in all cars.
Challenges To Come Over
There’s now a case to be made that India is a price-sensitive market, with sales of entry-level models being influenced even by minor price changes. According to sources, installing four more airbags for rear-seat passengers will cost between Rs. 8000 and Rs. 9000, including the cost of modification. An airbag typically costs roughly Rs. 1800, with the structural change costing around Rs. 500. Then there’s the expense of inflating the instrument and the cost of labour, which will be added on top of that. According to industry estimates, including six airbags in entry-level cars would add roughly Rs. 30,000 to the total cost of the vehicle.
Nitin Gadkari took to Twitter last August to express his views on mandating six airbags in automobiles, saying that in the interest of passenger safety, he urged all Private Vehicle Manufacturers to install a minimum of six airbags across all variations and segments of the vehicle. The move also supports Global NCAP’s ‘Safer Cars For India’ campaign, which encourages Indians to drive safely. In fact, side airbags are not required in several developed markets, although they play an important role in achieving crash test and safety criteria.
