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Safe mobility is an integral component in connectivity initiatives. In South Asia, road safety has emerged as a major challenge to transport connectivity. The Asian Development Bank (ADB), Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MORTH) of the Government of India, and Asian Institute of Transport Development organized the Conference on Safe Mobility and Regional Connectivity on 20-22 January 2020 in New Delhi, India. The conference discussed the current status of connectivity and road safety in the SASEC subregion and came up with proposed areas to be included in a common plan of action to address road safety challenges.

In his special address, Mr. Kenichi Yokoyama, Country Director, ADB India Resident Mission, emphasized that ensuring safe mobility complements ongoing national and regional efforts to improve connectivity in the SASEC subregion. He highlighted ADB’s commitment to promote the road safety agenda across its transport initiatives, including ADB’s support for the Government of India’s road safety campaign to reduce road fatalities. 

In her inaugural speech, Ms. Leena Nandan, Special Secretary, MORTH, highlighted the importance of promoting road safety awareness among the SASEC countries. 

The conference analyzed regulatory regimes, shared best practices in road safety among member countries of the SASEC program, and drew up a collective framework and action plan for regional safe mobility and connectivity. Mr. Ronald Butiong, Director, Regional Cooperation and Operations Coordination, South Asia Department, ADB, delivered a presentation on “Regional Connectivity and Transport Facilitation Initiatives in the SASEC Region.” Resource persons from the United Nations (UN) Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, UN Economic Commission for Europe, Indian Institute of Technology, and ADB made presentations on various areas of road safety. View the agenda for more information.

Country representatives from SASEC member countries, experts from non-government, international, and multilateral organizations, and representatives from regional organizations participated in the conference.