This initiative comes as a response to the growing concerns over the quality of helmets available in the market and their critical role in safeguarding lives on the road, the Department of Consumer Affairs said on Saturday.
Addressing the 12th edition of the Traffic InfraTech Expo here, Gadkari underscored the alarming statistics of road accidents in India, noting that the country experiences around 5 lakh accidents each year, resulting in numerous fatalities.
Officials here said on Saturday that the Road Safety Fortnight would be observed in all districts with inter-departmental coordination from April 22 to May 4.
A quiz competition based on road safety and traffic rules was also organized and the winners were felicitated by the police.
Fatalities in road accidents reduced by 17 per cent in five years.
Besides enforcement and other measures, concerted focus and initiatives should be on greater public awareness on road safety through audio-visual, social, print and electronic media to encourage greater public involvement
In the Rs 840 crore project signed, $82 million (Rs.615 crore) would be the share of the World Bank and $30 million (Rs. 225 crore) would be of the state government.
The West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has already called the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019 "very harsh" and has decided not to implement it in Bengal.
Common offences like use of mobiles, jumping traffic lights and driving on the wrong lane will now be categorised as "dangerous driving."
The municipality today made announcements regarding this on loudspeakers across the town, while it also asked traders to remove such building materials immediately from the roads.
