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AAP MP Demands Strong Road Safety Laws After Pothole Deaths Surge

AAP MP Sanjay Singh has submitted a Zero Hour notice in the Rajya Sabha demanding strong national road safety laws and an accountability framework. He cited official data showing 4.8 lakh road accidents and 1.72 lakh deaths in 2023, with potholes alone claiming 2,161 lives. Singh highlighted a tragic case of a three-year-old child's death on a Delhi highway to underscore the urgent need for action. His notice calls for criminal liability for contractors and officials responsible for unsafe roads.

Key Points: Sanjay Singh Seeks Strong Road Safety Laws in Rajya Sabha

  • 2,161 pothole deaths in 2023
  • 16.4% rise in pothole fatalities
  • Uttar Pradesh has over half of pothole deaths
  • Demand for criminal accountability for officials
2 min read

AAP MP Sanjay Singh gives zero-hour notice in Rajya Sabha on demand for strong road safety laws

AAP MP Sanjay Singh gives zero-hour notice demanding national laws for road safety and accountability after 2,161 pothole deaths in 2023.

"approximately 4.8 lakh road accidents were recorded nationwide in 2023, resulting in the loss of about 1.72 lakh lives - Ministry of Road Transport Report"

New Delhi, February 12

Aam Aadmi Party MP Sanjay Singh on Wednesday submitted a Zero Hour notice in the Rajya Sabha seeking a discussion on the demand for strong national laws and accountability for safe roads across India, highlighting the growing number of road accidents caused by potholes and poor road maintenance across the country.

In his notice to the Upper House, Singh cited the alarming rise in accidents and fatalities nationwide and stressed that citizens are paying the price for negligence in infrastructure and governance.

Quoting official data, Singh said, "According to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways' Road Accidents in India - 2023 report, approximately 4.8 lakh road accidents were recorded nationwide in 2023, resulting in the loss of about 1.72 lakh lives that is, one death every three minutes on average. This reflects a rise of 4.2% in accidents and 2.6% in fatalities compared to the previous year."

"Of grave concern is that in 2023 alone, 2,161 people died due to potholes, marking an increase of approximately 16.4% over the previous year. Uttar Pradesh accounts for more than half of these deaths, highlighting asevere crisis in road maintenance and safety within the State. Moreover, these figures likely underestimate the true toll, as many accidents and resultant fatalities go unreported, leaving families without justice or compensation," it further read.

To underline the seriousness of the issue, he referred to the death of a three-year-old child in a pothole-related accident on a national highway near Delhi, adding that the family is still waiting for accountability.

Through his Zero Hour notice, Singh demanded to frame a clear accountability framework to ensure that contractors, project managers, and government officials areheld criminally accountable for deaths or serious injuries caused by unsafe roads.

He also called for enacting strong national laws to guarantee speedy justice for victims and their families. "This accountability must apply to all roads across the country, including national highways, state highways, city roads, rural roads, and local streets," the notice read.

Sanjay Singh requested the Chair's permission to raise the issue during Zero Hour, saying the matter concerns public safety and the right of citizens to travel without fear.

Meanwhile, several papers will be laid on the Table of the Lok Sabha on Thursday during the ongoing Budget Session by various Ministries.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
The statistics are heartbreaking. One death every three minutes? That's a public health emergency. While I appreciate the MP raising this, I hope it leads to concrete action and not just another discussion in Parliament. Accountability must be non-negotiable.
V
Vikram M
Good move by Sanjay Singh. But let's be real, this is a problem across all states and under all governments. The contractor-politician nexus is too strong. Unless the law has real teeth to jail officials for negligence, nothing will change. Jai Hind.
P
Priyanka N
As a daily commuter in NCR, I live in fear. Monsoon means craters, not roads. The focus is always on building new highways, but what about maintaining the existing ones? Our tax money is being wasted. Speed cameras won't help if the road itself is a death trap.
A
Aman W
Respectfully, while the intent is good, this feels like political point-scoring during the budget session. The AAP government in Delhi has its own issues with road maintenance. We need a bipartisan national mission, not zero-hour notices that get forgotten the next day.
K
Kavya N
That poor 3-year-old child... it's unbearable to think about. When will our children be safe? The law must ensure compensation is automatic and swift for the families, not a 10-year court battle. This is a basic right to life issue. 🕊️

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