Six airbags compulsory for vehicles carrying up to 8 passengers, says Nitin Gadkari

In order to enhance the safety of the occupants in motor vehicles carrying up to 8 passengers, a draft GSR notification has made it compulsory to have a minimum of 6 airbags, said road transport minister Nitin Gadkari on Friday.

"This will ultimately ensure the safety of passengers across all segments, irrespective of the cost/variant of the vehicle," Gadkari said. The ministry has already mandated the implementation of fitment of the driver airbag from 1st July 2019 and front co-passenger airbag from 1st January this year.
In the M1 vehicle category, it has been decided that four additional airbags are compulsory to minimise the impact of frontal and lateral collisions to occupants seated in both front and rear compartments.


This would include two side/side torso airbags and two side curtain/tube airbags covering all outboard passengers.

This is a crucial step to make motor vehicles in India safer than ever, he added.