**Executive Summary**
This document provides the response of the Minister of Road Transport and Highways to a parliamentary question regarding the utilization of the Road Safety Fund. It clarifies that there is no specific Road Safety Fund at the central level, but road safety is an integral part of every National Highway Project. It includes fund allocation for road safety initiatives and schemes over the past five financial years. The response was given on February 12th, 2026.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Road Safety Fund:**
* There is no specific Road Safety Fund at the central level; funds are established at the State/UT level.
* Road safety is an integral component of every National Highway Project.
* **Road Safety Initiatives:**
* Road safety audit of all National Highway projects has been made mandatory at all stages (design, construction, operation, and maintenance).
* Expenditure on road safety aspects varies from 2.21% to 15% of the total project cost.
* The government implements schemes for awareness campaigns, supports Transport Departments for establishing training and certification centers, and strengthens public transport systems.
* **Impact on Road Accident Fatalities:**
* Road fatalities per 10,000 vehicles have reduced from 5.8 in 2018 to 4.3 in 2022.
* Fatalities per 10,000 km of roads have reduced from 254 in 2018 to 250 in 2022.
* **Financial Allocations (Last five FYs):**
* Funds were allocated for road safety publicity measures, awareness campaigns, the National Highway Accident Relief Service Scheme (NHARSS), refresher training of drivers, inspection and certification centers, and improving public transport systems.
* The details of funds released for these initiatives during the last three Financial Years are placed at Annexure.
**Impact Analysis**
**Ministry of Road Transport and Highways**
* **Impact:** Required to allocate funds for road safety initiatives, ensure road safety audits for National Highway projects, and implement schemes for awareness and training.
* **Action Required:** Continue monitoring road accident data, allocate and manage road safety funds, and oversee the implementation of road safety schemes.
**States/UTs**
* **Impact:** Responsible for establishing and managing Road Safety Funds at their level and implementing road safety initiatives with financial support from the Government.
* **Action Required:** Effectively utilize allocated funds for road safety projects, establish Model Driving Training Institutes/Centres, Model Inspection & Certification Centres, and improve and strengthen Public Transport Systems.
**Road Users**
* **Impact:** Benefit from increased road safety measures and awareness campaigns.
* **Action Required:** Be aware of road safety measures and follow safe driving practices.
Key Entities Referenced
Road Safety Fund: Fund for road safety initiatives at the State/UT level and integrated into National Highway projects.
Ministry of Road Transport and Highways: The primary ministry responsible for the details of funds released and initiatives related to road safety.
National Highway Project: Road safety is an integral and indispensable component of every National Highway Project.
States/UTs: Locations where Road Safety funds are established and various initiatives are implemented.
Detailed Project Report (DPR): Road safety initiatives on National Highways commence with the inception of the Detailed Project Report (DPR) as road safety audit of all National Highways projects
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2153
ANSWERED ON 12TH FEBRUARY, 2026
UTILISATION OF ROAD SAFETY FUND
2153. SHRI VARUN CHAUDHRY:
Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार् ग मत्रं ी
be pleased to state:
(a) the details of collection and utilisation of the Road Safety Fund
during the last five years, year-wise and State-wise;
(b) the impact of utilisation of the Road Safety Fund in reducing road
accidents and road accident deaths; and
(c) whether any review of the utilisation of the Road Safety Fund has
been undertaken vis-a-vis its objective of reducing road accidents and
if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
(SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)
(a) to (c) There is no specific Road Safety Fund at the Central level.
Road Safety funds are established at the level of
States/UTs. However, Road Safety is an integral and indispensable
component of every National Highway Project. Road Safety initiatives
on National Highways commence with the inception of Detailed Project
Report (DPR) as road safety audit of all National Highways projects has
been made mandatory at all stages i.e. design, construction, operation
& maintenance through auditors/experts. As per available data,
expenditure on comprehensive road safety aspects varies from 2.21%
to 15% of total cost of the development projects depending upon
structures involved for construction of National Highways.
Besides, the Government also implements the scheme for creation of
awareness & publicity among road users and provides financial support
to Transport Departments of States/UTs for setting up of Model Driving
Training Institutes/Centres, setting up of Model Inspection &
Certification Centres, improving and Strengthening of Public TransportSystem etc. The details of funds released for these initiatives during
the last three Financial Years are placed at Annexure.
The analysis of the road accident fatalities data in terms of number of
vehicles and road length indicates that the road fatalities per 10,000
vehicles have reduced from 5.8 in 2018 to 4.3 in 2022 and fatalities per
10,000 Kms of roads have reduced from 254 in 2018 to 250 in 2022.Annexure
ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) to (c) OF LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2153 ANSWERED ON 12TH FEBRUARY, 2026
ASKED BY SHRI VARUN CHAUDHRY REGARDING UTILISATION OF ROAD
SAFETY FUND.
Details of funds released by the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways
for various road safety initiatives/schemes during the last five FYs
(Rs. In Crores)
Sl. Activity/ Programm BE Expend BE Expend BE Expendi BE Expe BE Expen
No. e FY iture FY iture FY ture FY nditur FY diture
2020-21 in FY 2021- in FY 2022 in 2023 e 2024 in FY
2020- 22 2021- - 23 FY – in FY - 25 2024 -
21 22 2022 – 24 2023 25
23 –
24
1 Road Safety 171.00 65.94 109.0 41.48 189.5 68.67 138.1 85.04 103.5 99.20
publicity measures 0 0 0 0
and awareness
campaigns,
National Highway
Accident Relief
Service Scheme
(NHARSS), refresher
Training of Drivers
in Unorganised
Sector and Human
Resource
Development, etc.
2 Inspection and 29.00 16.20 29.00 14.15 33.00 14.60 24.00 17.77 19.50 10.65
Certification
Centres (Revenue)
3 Improving and 89.00 30.60 103.0 10.80 15.00 30.33 50.00 38.00 38.00 16.04
Strengthening of 0 *
Public Transport
System
*Rs. 40.00 crore at RE Stage
*****