Gadkari's statement has come days after the former chairman of the Tata conglomerate died in a car crash. According to a statement by the local police, Mistry was sitting in the rear seat and did not have his seat belt on.
"Because of this Cyrus Mistry accident we have decided ... an alarm will continue to beep until those sitting in the rear seats put on their seat belt," Gadkari added, “There is already an alarm for those in the front seats, and now it will beep for rear seat belts too".
As per a report by World Bank, one person dies every four minutes in road accidents in India.
While it is already mandatory for all occupants in a car in India, the world's fourth-biggest auto market, to wear a seat belt failing which they can be fined, passengers at the back seldom do and enforcement is also lax.
Gadkari said he plans to strictly enforce this rule and will introduce penalties for non-compliance.
"The behaviour of the people is very important. We need to change the mindset of the people," he said.
In an event, Gadkari recalled that he had seen clips being used to prevent the beep of seatbelt alarms during his travel in vehicles of four chief ministers in the past year.
"Let me tell you something new. I travelled with chief ministers of four states during the past year. I sit in the front seat and use the seatbelt. I found a clip placed where the seatbelt is buckled. I scolded the driver. I am talking of the vehicles of four chief ministers, not talking of the common man. The seatbelt was fastened at the back. I told the driver to take it out and start the vehicle till then and then I put on the seatbelt," he said.
"Such clips are available in the market. Some people apply them so that there is no sound," he added.
He said rules are being made that this is captured on camera and a fine is imposed if the seatbelt is not fastened.
"This situation.. the clip was there in the cars of chief ministers of four states. I have issued orders that manufacturing and installing such a clip will be an offence. There is a problem. Here we need the cooperation of people," he said.
He said such clips can be found with some drivers and the passenger on the front seat does not use the seatbelt and the clip is used to prevent the sound of the alarm.
