Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways Nitin Gadkari today announced the government’s decision to implement the proposal for a minimum of six airbags in passenger cars from 1 October 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 October 01, 2023,” he tweeted.
”Safety of all passengers travelling in motor vehicles irrespective of their cost and variants is the foremost priority,” he said in another tweet.
His ministry had earlier announced mandatory six airbags from 1 October 2022. Earlier in September, the ministry issued draft rules to make it mandatory for car makers to install an alarm system for rear seat belts.
The government has been considering enforcing the use of rear seatbelts ever since Cyrus Mistry, the former chairman of Indian conglomerate Tata Sons, died in a car crash recently. He was sitting in the rear seat and did not have his seat belt on.