Every Car Should Have Minimum Safety Features: Gadkari

All vehicles, including basic models should be fitted with at least minimal safety features says Nitin Gadkari, the Road Transport Minister.

This announcement was made just a few days before CMVR-TCS, decides about test procedures and safety features that all Indian cars must have in the future.

This committee, has representatives from various other organisations like heavy industries ministry, Bureau Of Indian Standards, Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI).

Once the call is taken for new standards for automobile safety, it would be notified under Bharat New Vehicle Safety Assessment Programme (BNVSAP).

These safety norms for cars will be made mandatory from October 2017 for new vehicles and for existing vehicles, it will be compulsory from 2018.

A top level ministry official said, "We will set the minimum standard such as frontal and rear crash test at 56 km/h. Moreover, there will be star rating based on the cars having better safety features. The manufacturers can apply for getting such star rating for safer vehicles."

Many carmakers have claimed that the cost of a car will go up by 30 percent if safety features such as airbags, Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), seat belt reminder and child lock functionality check.

An administrative body will be set up to make sure the BNVSAP norms are implemented and will also have the power to chose random models to check if the rules have been obeyed by the carmaker.