Paving the Path to a Safer 'Viksit Bharat' - A New Approach to Road Safety

An Indian road safety expert highlights the critical importance of safe mobility to achieve the 'Viksit Bharat' objective. He advocates for adopting culturally empathetic road safety models tailored for the Global South, emphasizing the significant economic impact of road crashes and the need for localized solutions.

At the World Economic Forum, road safety took center stage as a pivotal driver for India's 'Viksit Bharat 2047' mission. Piyush Tewari, CEO of SaveLife Foundation, emphasized the necessity of tailored road safety models that cater to the Global South, breaking away from Western paradigms.

Tewari pointed to a staggering statistic: road crashes cost India between 3-5% of its GDP annually, a loss that reverberates through vulnerable economic sectors. Implementing culturally sensitive solutions stands as a cornerstone of his advocacy, aiming to reduce the toll on families just emerging from poverty.

Highlighting initiatives like zero fatality corridors, Tewari envisions scaling these efforts across India and potentially exporting them as 'Make in India' solutions. His approach underscores the significance of adapting road safety measures to local realities for sustainable impact.

(With inputs from agencies.)