ROLE OF LEAD AGENCY IN DESIGNING SAFER ROADS IN INDIA

Abstract

Of all the components of Road Safety, perhaps the two with the potential for maximum impact which can be brought in
systematically are – Road Design and Construction and Road Safety Audit. While the former ensures that safety is ‘built-in’ the
road, the latter helps with timely identification and rectification of errors. Both take into account the fact that providing a ‘safe
system’ overall is required to help minimize the impact of
expected and unexpected human errors, negligence and frailties. Road designs and construction is the foundation on which all other tenets of road safety policy can be raised. Many nations have come up with an idea of establishing a nodal agency or lead agency wholly responsible for setting standards and monitoring implementation of these standards by way of audits at both levels initial approval and periodical. They have laid down uniform guidelines and set the standards which are binding on the contractors and builders. In this paper, author will explore the issues concerning safe road engineering with particular emphasis on two interrelated concepts - road design and construction and road safety audits. In our discussion, we not just look at these issues from a domestic lens, but consider some international experience and perspective as well. Finally, author will make some policy recommendations comprising of - the composition, functions, and powers and funding of the lead agency so that it becomes capable of enforcing safe road engineering and audit.