In response to Unstarred Question No. 1009, answered on February 5th, 2026, by the Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Shri Nitin Jairam Gadkari, regarding the increase in road fatalities and road traffic crashes:
* **(a)** As per the electronic Detailed Accident Report (e-DAR) for 2025 (as on 2.2.2026), road accident fatalities on National Highways comprise 33.27% of the total number of road accident fatalities on all roads in the country.
* **(b)** As per the Medical Certification of Causes of Deaths 2023 report published by the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India, the total number of deaths is 19,00,956. External Causes of Morbidity and Mortality accounted for 68,311 medically certified deaths, of which deaths due to motor vehicle traffic accidents accounted for 12,319 deaths.
* **(c)** As per information provided by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, during the 11th and 12th Five Year Plans, under the “National Programme for Prevention & Management of Trauma and Burn Injuries” (NPPMT&BI), a total of 196 Trauma Care Facilities (TCFs) were sanctioned in Government Hospitals/Medical Colleges across the country.
Key Entities Referenced
National Highways: A major road network in India that accounts for a significant percentage of road fatalities.
Ministry of Road Transport and Highways: The primary ministry responsible for road transport and safety in India.
National Programme for Prevention & Management of Trauma and Burn Injuries (NPPMT&BI): A national initiative to improve trauma care facilities and manage trauma and burn injuries.
Electronic Detailed Accident Report (e-DAR): A digital platform used to record and analyze road accidents data.
Medical Certification of Causes of Deaths 2023: A report providing mortality data, published by the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1009
ANSWERED ON 5TH FEBRUARY, 2026
INCREASE IN ROAD FATALITIES AND ROAD TRAFFIC CRASHES
1009. SHRI KALYAN BANERJEE:
Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार् ग मत्रं ी
be pleased to state:
(a) whether it is a fact that National Highways, comprising about 2
per cent of India’s road network, account for approximately 30–34 per
cent of total road fatalities;
(b) whether it is also a fact that road traffic crashes have become the
11th largest contributor to India’s health burden in terms of deaths and
disabilities, with the share increasing from 11 per cent in 2010 to 17
per cent in 2024; and
(c) the present status and future planning for setting up trauma OPD
centres along National Highways?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
(SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)
(a) As per electronic Detailed Accident Report (e-DAR) for 2025 (as on
2.2.2026), the number of road accidents fatalities on National Highways
comprise 33.27% of the total number of road accident fatalities on all
roads in the country.
(b) As per report on Medical Certification of Causes of Deaths 2023
published by the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India, total
number of deaths are 19,00,956. The External Causes of Morbidity and
Mortality accounted for 68,311 medically certified deaths, of which
deaths due to motor vehicle traffic accidents accounted for 12,319
deaths.(c) As per information provided by the Ministry of Health & Family
Welfare, during 11th Five Year Plan and 12th Five Year Plan under the
“National Programme for Prevention & Management of Trauma and
Burn Injuries” (NPPMT&BI), total 196 Trauma Care Facilities (TCFs)
were sanctioned in Government Hospitals/ Medical Colleges across the
country.
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