Close down alcohol shops on sides of highways: Nitin Gadkari

NEW DELHI: In a bid to bring down road accidents by 50 per cent in the next two years, Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari today said alcohol shops on either side of highways should be closed.

"Alcohol shops on sides of highways shall be closed," Gadkari tweeted.

He said that the government has set a target of bringing down loss of lives due to accidents by 50 per cent within at most two years.

The government is also setting up a Motor Vehicle and Road Safety Regulation Authority.

India has a dubious distinction which does not make us proud, Gadkari said, adding that vehicle safety standards shall also be improved and manufacturers' lobby shall be tackled appropriately.

The Minister said he will write to the Home Ministry on need for amending various Police Acts to prevent victimisation of good samaritans.

"We have begun a programme to rectify problems due to faulty road engineering," Gadkari said, adding that road engineering has a very big role in road safety.

He also said that government is identifying accident-prone spots.

The new road safety system shall provide employment to 5 lakh people while bringing in transparency and reducing corruption.

Electronic toll collections shall be implemented widely, the Minister said.

Stating the work is on the new Road Safety Bill, he said: "We have taken best practices of many countries like USA, UK, Japan in the new Road Safety law."