Nitin Gadkari Launches Groundbreaking Bharat NCAP to Revolutionize Vehicle Safety Standards
New Delhi, August 22, 2023 – Taking a momentous leap towards enhancing road safety and empowering consumers, Nitin Gadkari, the Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, officially unveiled the Bharat New Car Assessment Programme (Bharat NCAP) today. The inauguration ceremony, held in New Delhi, marked a pivotal juncture in the reinforcement of vehicle safety criteria for vehicles weighing up to 3.5 tonnes across India.
Addressing the gathering, Nitin Gadkari highlighted the transformative impact of Bharat NCAP on consumers’ decision-making processes while purchasing vehicles, emphasizing safety as the paramount consideration. He emphasized the program’s potential not only to elevate the overall safety and quality of vehicles within the nation but also to catalyze healthy competition among Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), fostering the production of safer vehicles.
The intricate interplay between BHARAT NCAP and AIS-197 was underscored by the Minister, who underscored the mutual advantages for both manufacturers and consumers. The introduction of this new safety regime is poised to reshape the landscape of automotive safety, promising tangible benefits for all stakeholders. Shri Gadkari reaffirmed the initiative’s pivotal role in protecting citizens’ lives while solidifying India’s global stature in automobile manufacturing.
Encompassing type-approved motor vehicles within the M1 category and weighing under 3.5 tonnes Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW), the program operates on a voluntary basis. It will rigorously subject base model variants to meticulous testing procedures.
Commencing on October 1, 2023, the program’s bedrock is the Automotive Industry Standard (AIS) 197. The central aim is to foster a competitive environment for enhancing safety, resulting in heightened consumer consciousness. By enabling direct comparisons of vehicle performance under crash test scenarios, consumers will be equipped to make astute and well-informed decisions.
This groundbreaking initiative offers Original Equipment Manufacturers an unprecedented opportunity to align their production processes with globally recognized safety benchmarks. Under the watchful administration of the Central Institute of Road Transport (CIRT), the program’s formulation has been shaped through comprehensive stakeholder consultations.
As India charts its course towards creating a safer automotive ecosystem, the advent of the Bharat New Car Assessment Programme emerges as a defining step. It promises to redefine safety paradigms, bestowing consumers across the nation with enhanced protection and transforming the automotive landscape.
