Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, expressed deep regret on Thursday over the rising number of road accidents in India, admitting that he had failed to meet his ambitious target of reducing accident fatalities by 50 per cent since assuming office. He revealed that, when attending international conferences where road accidents are discussed, he often feels the need to "hide his face" due to the increasing death toll on Indian roads.

In a candid admission during a discussion on road safety in the Lok Sabha, Gadkari said, "Forget about reducing the number of accidents, I have no hesitation to admit that it has increased." The minister’s statement followed a supplementary query during the Question Hour, where he underscored the enormity of the challenge India faces in tackling road accidents.