New Delhi : Mr Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) will inaugurate the Webinar Series titled ‘ Road safety challenges in India and Preparation of an Action plan’ being organised by the India chapter of the International road Federation (IRF), a global body working for better and safer roads worldwide on February 9 , 2021. The Webinar Series will focus on meeting the target of reducing the road fatalities in the country by half by the year 2030.

The International Road Federation (IRF)-India chapter as an integral part of its Mission of Road safety has planned a series of 12 webinars titled “Road Safety Challenges in India & Preparation of an Action Plan” to be held through the year on the important aspects of the 5 Es of road safety.    .

“After the non-realisation of the target of UN Decade of Action for Road Safety (2011-2020), the Global Community had decided on 12 Voluntary Targets to be realised for Road Safety by all countries. The First Target identified by the Global Community is for establishing an Action Plan for Road Safety by 2020 for realising the target of “50 by 30”, i.e. reducing the road fatalities to half by 2030 aligned to the Sustainable Development Goals.” Said Mr K K Kapila, President Emeritus, International Road Federation.

“As the year 2020 was severely impacted by Covid-19 pandemic, most countries had to concentrate only on the health sector activities to save lives with relentless fight to contain the medical emergencies caused by the pandemic. As such, we propose to establish a very carefully thought out Action Plan for Road Safety in India by December 2021.” Said Mr Kapila

“The Webinar series is designed for all stakeholders of Road Safety in Central and State Governments, Industries, Corporates, all skilled professionals and the  general public across all levels of the society to participate and contribute by giving ideas and information to the development of an all-encompassing and sustainable Action Plan for the Road Safety in India. “ added  Mr Kapila.

“The aim of the Series is to educate and campaign for road safety and its components, particularly by addressing all the requirements as detailed in Five Pillars of Road Safety. This Action Plan will then be recommended to the Central and State Governments for their adoption for the decade (2021-2030) with a systematic execution plan, pursued consistently with necessary funding support, to realise the target of reducing the road deaths by half by 2030.” Said Dr S Gangopadhyay, President, India chapter of IRF.

IRF-India Chapter will launch this ambitious plan with an Inaugural Webinar on
9th February 2021 on the subject of “Road Safety Engineering & Challenges”, during the National Road Safety Month being observed in the country from 18^th January 2021 to 17^th February 2021. The Webinar Series will be inaugurated by the Honourable Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways and MSME.  The Inauguration Programme is as follows:

PROGRAMME OF INAUGURATION OF WEBINAR SERIES

Tuesday – 9^th February 2021

Title: Road Safety Engineering & Challenges
Time	Programme of Inauguration
5.00-5.10 PM	Introduction to Webinar Series by Dr. S. Gangopadhyay, Chairman IRF-IC
5.10-5.25 PM	Keynote Address by Mr. K. K. Kapila, President (Emeritus), IRF (Geneva)
5.25-5.30 PM	Video Messages from International Dignitaries
5.30-5.55 PM	Inaugural Speech by the Honourable Minister Shri Nitin Gadkari followed by Q&A
5.55-6.00 PM	Vote of Thanks