Union minister of road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari said that trucks sold in the country will soon have air-conditioned driver cabins.
"While I wanted to introduce air conditioners in truck driver compartments from the day I took charge as minister, some automakers opposed the move, saying this will increase costs," Gadkari said, adding that truck cabins in 47-degree Celsius heat are unbearable for drivers.
"Before coming to this event, I have signed the file that makes air conditioning mandatory in truck driver cabins," he said.
"We must understand the mental state of a driver. Even machines need fuel and grease to work properly," the Union minister said.
Some auto companies, which were earlier cost-centric, have now become quality-centric, he added, without divulging any names.
"Truck drivers in India drive for 14 to 16 hours a day on average," Gadkari lamented, saying their drive time is restricted in other countries.
India's logistics cost is 14-16% compared with 8-10% in China and 12% in Europe and the U.S., says Gadkari.
"In order to increase exports, the logistics costs must come down. And to achieve that, we need good roads, good trucks and good drivers," he said.
Cleaner fuels such as hydrogen can bring down the country's logistics cost to 8%, says Gadkari.
According to the minister, India has a shortage of driving schools. "There are only 40-50 driving schools whereas there is a potential for 1,700 such schools. OEMs should invest in driving training schools and vehicle scrapping business," he said.
While talking about road safety, Gadkari urged drivers to follow lane discipline. "Trucks and buses will soon be mandated to drive in the last lane, we are marking lanes on the Mumbai-Delhi expressway," he said. This, according to the Union minister, will reduce road accidents.
India sees around 5 lakh accidents every year, resulting in 1.5 lakh deaths, costing around 3% of India's GDP, Gadkari said, adding that 60% of such deaths are in the age group of 18-34 years.
Gadkari attributed frequent road accidents to faulty detailed project reports prepared by road engineers and a lack of lights and signage. "We need to work on road engineering, automobile engineering, enforcement, education, and emergency medical services," he added. To enhance the safety of car passengers, the Centre had last year extended the deadline for mandatory implementation of six airbags in a passenger car by a year to October 01, 2023.
India, which recently overtook Japan to become the world's third-largest auto market, clocked an annual turnover of ₹7.5 lakh crore. In the next five years, the government plans to increase it to ₹15 lakh crore.
On roadside amenities such as washrooms along the highways, Gadkari said the government plans to build 570 roadside amenities. Of this, 170 tenders have already been completed.
