New Delhi: Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday launched the country’s first car crash testing programme, Bharat New Car Assessment Programme (BNCAP).
Every year around 5 lakh accidents take place in India and 1.5 lakh deaths due to these accidents, the Minister said.
To be implemented from October 1 this year, car manufacturers can voluntarily offer their vehicles under the BNCAP norms and get them tested as per the Automotive Industry Standard (AIS) 197.
According to a reliable source, the test protocols for Bharat NCAP will be largely based on Global NCAP’s revised test protocols (for 2022-2025) which were adopted from July last year. ETAuto had reported about this plan on May 26, 2022
Nitin Gadkari believes that road engineering is also an issue that leads to road accidents. He says, people should be more quality conscious. The Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways have surpassed Japan and became third in the world with the growth rate of vehicles at 9.91%.
He urges the government and the test centers like ICAP, CRT, ITI, ARAI, NATRAX, and GR to provide the reports of testing within a few months.
This will help the people to understand, and become aware about the quality of the product before buying it.
Gadkari has expressed a strong desire to become a global leading auto industry, he said, “It is difficult not impossible”.
Currently, the cost of testing cars for safety rating abroad stands at INR 2.5 crore. With the introduction of new BNCAP norms, this will come down to INR 60 lakh, Gadkari said.
BNCAP has already received request for 30 models from various OEMs, he added.
Vinod Aggarwal, President, SIAM at today’s launch event of Bharat NCAP said, “ The Bharat NCAP programme being launched today by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is very timely and apt, as the Safety Star Rating of the new Passenger Vehicles will go a long way in educating customers in making informed purchase decisions, which would now be very strongly influenced by the safety parameters of the vehicle.”
“We welcome the BNCAP safety initiative by Govt. of India and believe this effort will raise safety standards, empower consumers with vital information, and make Indian roads safer for all. At Hyundai Motor India, we remain committed to delivering the highest safety standards across our entire product range.” said Mr. Unsoo Kim, MD & CEO, Hyundai Motor India Limited.
Rahul Bharti, Executive Officer, Corporate affairs, Maruti Suzuki said, “Any car that is launched in India follows the mandatory safety standards set by the government and is therefore safe. For consumers seeking extra safety or manufacturers offering extra safety features the Bharat NCAP system is an authentic and objective rating system to empower the customer to make an informed choice. Maruti Suzuki welcomes this initiative of the Government and will offer atleast 3 models for BNCAP testing in the first lot itself. At the same time, we would request all users to fasten seatbelts whether in the front or rear seats as that is the most critical factor in keeping safe.”
“I applaud the Government of India for this visionary and historic initiative; Bharat New Car Assessment Programme (Bharat NCAP) is a truly landmark event in the automotive industry. This significant stride aligns seamlessly with our core mission of the “Human First Program” initiative, propelling us further on our journey to prioritize the safety and well-being of drivers, passengers and pedestrians.
This initiative arrives at a crucial juncture for India, as the need to curtail fatalities on our roads has never been more pressing. With road safety taking precedence, the Bharat NCAP is a pivotal tool to assess and enhance the safety standards of vehicles on our roads.
The Government of India’s timely and historical introduction of the Bharat NCAP showcases its dedication to safeguarding its citizens and advancing road safety. Renault India wholeheartedly supports this initiative and looks forward to contributing our expertise towards reducing accidents and ensuring safer journeys for all.” said Venkatram Mamillapalle, Country CEO & Managing Director, Renault India Operations.
