New Delhi July 24 (IANS) The last date for trucks to have air conditioned cabins for drivers a mandatory norm by the central government has been extended to December 31 2017 an official said on Monday.
The move is aimed at reducing the number of road accidents which claim 1.5 lakh lives and injure three lakh people every year.
"The government had mandated that with effect from April 1 2017 all goods vehicles of category N2 and N3 have to be fitted with an air conditioning system for the cabin " said Mansukh Lal Mandaviya Minister of State for Road Transport Highways and Shipping in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha
"Implementation date has been extended to December 31 2017 " the minister added.
As per the data by police of all states and union territories during the calendar year 2015 trucks tempos MAV (multi-axle vehicles) and tractors caused 98 897 (19.7 per cent) road accidents and resulted in 37 458 (25.6 per cent) deaths.
Buses caused 41 832 (8.3 per cent) road accidents and resulted in 12 133 (8.3 per cent) deaths.
"However in terms of road users killed in road accidents during the calendar year 2015 the share of users of trucks and buses were 16 611 (11.4 per cent) and 10 743 (7.4 per cent) respectively out of 1 46 133 number of total road accident deaths in the country " said Mandaviya.
--IANS
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