New Delhi, Sept. 4 -- Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari on Thursday appealed for public cooperation, acknowledging that changing human behaviour represents the most formidable obstacle in India's battle against road fatalities, as he announced Rs 1.5 lakh insurance coverage for accident victims requiring hospitalisation up to seven days.

Speaking at the 7th Edition of FICCI Road Safety Awards & Symposium, Gadkari admitted that despite comprehensive policy reforms and infrastructure improvements, government efforts to reduce India's staggering road death toll have fallen short of expectations. The country suffers nearly five lakh road accidents annually, claiming 1.8 lakh lives and costing the economy 3 per cent of ...