Nitin Gadkari: In recent years, awareness towards road safety has increased and the need for safety equipment like helmets has been emphasized. However, expensive helmets have been a major concern for the general public, especially in areas where the means of income are limited. In view of this problem, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari has announced steps towards reducing the prices of helmets. This step will not only promote road safety but will also reduce the burden on the common man’s pocket.
Background of the problem
The number of road accidents in India has increased alarmingly. Every year thousands of people lose their lives in road accidents, a large number of which are motorcyclists. Most of the deaths in these accidents are due to head injuries. Helmets are essential for head protection, but due to high prices it becomes difficult for people of low and middle income groups to buy them.
The unavailability of affordable and quality helmets has made many motorcyclists indifferent to safety. Often people buy cheap and substandard helmets, which do not provide any protection during an accident. In such a situation, reducing the price of helmets is a necessary step.
Nitin Gadkari’s Viewpoint
Taking this problem seriously, Nitin Gadkari has stressed on the need to reduce the prices of helmets. He said that the government is taking several steps to provide cheap and standard helmets. Under this, it will be ensured that the helmets available in the market are certified by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and their prices are also within the reach of the general public.
Gadkari believes that road safety cannot be improved only by making laws, but it is also necessary to make the necessary safety equipment accessible and affordable to make people feel safe. This will also send a message to the public that the government is serious about protecting their interests.
Possible Solutions
The government is working at many levels to reduce the prices of helmets. The main ones are,
1Promote local production
: The government is working towards reducing the production cost of helmets by promoting domestic manufacturers. This will reduce the prices of helmets and make cheap and quality products available in the market.
2. Tax concessions: Gadkari has indicated that taxes on helmets could also be reduced, which would directly impact the prices of helmets and they would become cheaper.
3. Collaboration with companies: The government is also in talks with big helmet manufacturing companies so that they can reduce their production and distribution costs. This will make cheaper helmets available in the market.
Future expectations
This move by Nitin Gadkari is expected to improve road safety in the coming times. If cheap and standard helmets are available in the market, more and more people will buy them, which will also reduce the number of deaths in road accidents.
This initiative is also expected to make people more aware of road safety and support the steps taken by the government. This decision to reduce helmet prices to improve road safety is definitely a welcome step, which will ensure the safety of millions of Indians.
