This document summarizes the Indian government's response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2057, answered on July 31, 2025, regarding the safety of pedestrians and cyclists along National Highways (NHs).
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways affirms the right to safe mobility for pedestrians, cyclists, and non-motorized users. To ensure their safety, the government provides pedestrian underpasses, footpaths, foot-over bridges, and pedestrian crossings based on detailed surveys, site requirements, and Indian Road Congress (IRC) codal provisions/guidelines. Road safety audits are conducted at the design, construction, and pre-opening stages of NH projects, as well as on existing NHs, with universal accessibility for persons with disabilities considered a key principle in footpath design.
Data on pedestrian and cyclist accidents and fatalities on NHs has been collected since 2019. The provided data indicates the following:
* **2019:** 18,906 pedestrian accidents with 7,749 deaths; 3,693 bicycle accidents with 1,668 deaths.
* **2020:** 13,882 pedestrian accidents with 7,753 deaths; 2,468 bicycle accidents with 1,232 deaths.
* **2021:** 17,113 pedestrian accidents with 9,462 deaths; 3,009 bicycle accidents with 1,667 deaths.
* **2022:** 20,513 pedestrian accidents with 10,160 deaths; 3,003 bicycle accidents with 1,445 deaths.
The government proposes to ensure pedestrian-safe infrastructure in all highway projects at every stage, including through design modifications where necessary, based on road safety audits and site requirements. The Minister of Road Transport and Highways is Shri Nitin Jairam Gadkari. The question was raised by SHRI GURMEET SINGH MEET HAYER.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Road Transport and Highways: The Indian government ministry responsible for the development and maintenance of the national highways and transport infrastructure.
National Highways (NHs): The network of main roads running throughout India, maintained by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
Shri Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer: The Member of Parliament who raised the unstarred question regarding pedestrian and cyclist safety on National Highways.
Shri Nitin Jairam Gadkari: The Minister of Road Transport and Highways who answered the question in the Lok Sabha.
Persons with Disabilities (PwD): A category of vulnerable road users whose needs are considered during highway planning and construction.
Indian Road Congress (IRC): A premier technical organization in the country for highways engineers responsible for standardization and codification in the field of highway engineering.
Road Safety Audit: A formal safety examination of a highway or road project during design, construction, and operation to identify potential safety hazards and recommend improvements.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India, where the question regarding road safety was raised and answered.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2057
ANSWERED ON 31ST JULY, 2025
SAFETY OF PEDESTRIANS/CYCLISTS ALONG NHs
2057. SHRI GURMEET SINGH MEET HAYER:
Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री
be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government recognises the right to safe mobility of
pedestrians, cyclists and non-motorised users along or across
National Highways (NHs) and if so, the details thereof;
(b) the efforts made to integrate safe crossings and accessible
infrastructure for women, children, the elderly and Persons with
Disabilities (PwD) during highway planning and construction;
(c) whether data is maintianed on pedestrian and cyclist fatalities
or injuries on NHs during the last five years, if so, the details thereof
and if not, the reasons therefor; and
(d) whether the Government proposes to ensure pedestrian-safe
infrastructure in all highway projects at every stage including
through design modifications where necessary and if so, the details
thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
(SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)
(a), (b) & (d) In order to ensure the safety of pedestrians, cyclists
and non-motorised users, pedestrian underpasses, footpaths, foot-over bridges, pedestrian crossings, are provided based on detailed
surveys and site requirements as per Indian Road Congress (IRC)
codal provisions/guidelines and specifications for Road and Bridge
Works. Further, road safety audit is conducted on all National
Highways (NHs) at design, construction, and pre-opening stage of
National Highway projects as well as on existing NHs for ensuring
safety of pedestrians and other vulnerable road users. IRC
guidelines entail “universal accessibility” as one of the key
principles with regards to provision of footpaths or footways being
user-friendly to persons with disabilities. The provisions of
aforementioned guidelines are implemented based on road safety
audits and site requirements.
(c) Yes Sir, the details are Annexed.ANNEXURE
ANNEXURE REFERRED IN REPLY TO PART (c) OF LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2057 FOR 31.07.2025 ASKED BY SHRI
GURMEET SINGH MEET HAYER REGARDING SAFETY OF
PEDESTRIANS/CYCLISTS ALONG NHs.
Accidents and Fatalities on NH under categories Pedestrian and
Bicycle
Pedestrians Bicycles
Year Total
Total Accidents Deaths Deaths
Accidents
2018# NA NA NA NA
2019 18906 7749 3693 1668
2020 13882 7753 2468 1232
2021 17113 9462 3009 1667
2022 20513 10160 3003 1445
# Data collected 2019 onwards
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