The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has introduced a novel safety rating system for passenger cars, set to be implemented on October 1. This announcement was made during the launch of the Bharat New Car Assessment Programme (Bharat NCAP) event in New Delhi. With the induction of the Bharat NCAP, India will become the fifth nation globally to possess its own vehicle crash test rating system. Vehicles that undergo testing under this initiative will exhibit a Bharat NCAP logo and a rating-specific sticker.
The new programme, which assesses vehicles at an approximate cost of ₹60 lakh, is a significant cost-saver compared to overseas testing expenses, which can reach ₹2.5 crore. The Automotive Industry Standard (AIS) 197 permits car manufacturers to voluntarily present their vehicles for evaluation. Depending on a vehicle’s performance, it will be awarded star ratings for Adult Occupants (AOP) and Child Occupants (COP).
Bharat NCAP evaluates vehicles on aspects such as structural safety, active and passive safety assist technologies, and pedestrian-friendly design. Launched by Nitin Gadkari, the Minister of Road Transport and Highways, this initiative aims to enhance road safety by elevating the safety standards of vehicles weighing up to 3.5 tonnes in India.
Gadkari emphasised that road safety is of paramount importance and that changes need to be implemented in road engineering methodologies. He noted that more than 30 models from various car manufacturers have already volunteered for testing.
A notable feature of Bharat NCAP is its alignment with global crash test protocols while taking into account existing Indian regulations. This approach enables vehicle testing within India, thereby reducing costs associated with sending cars abroad for NCAP-accredited testing. Under the new norms set by Bharat NCAP, mandatory features include airbags for both drivers and passengers (front and rear), reversed parking sensors, cameras, speed alert systems, electronic stability control to prevent skidding, anti-lock braking systems, seat belt reminders, and more.
Given that India experiences around 5 lakh road accidents and 1.5 deaths from road accidents each year, with approximately 1,100 accidents and 400 deaths occurring daily, the introduction of the Bharat NCAP system is seen as a crucial step towards improving road safety.
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