The Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways, Mr. Nitin Gadkari, emphasizes the use of AI and advanced technology to improve road safety

Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways, Mr. Nitin Gadkari, addressed the 12th edition of the Traffic InfraTech Expo in New Delhi, focusing on the urgent need to enhance road safety and adopt advanced transportation technology. He highlighted that India records around five lakh road accidents annually, with over half of the fatalities in the 18-36 age group. The economic loss due to these accidents is estimated at 3% of GDP. He stressed that improving road safety is a top priority for the government, with measures already underway to address this. He underscored the importance of integrating cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence and improving road engineering by collaborating with startups and young engineers.

He also discussed new law enforcement approaches using AI to identify traffic violations. He also mentioned plans to upgrade toll collection systems by exploring satellite tools to improve efficiency and transparency. The government has appointed experts from the private sector to collaborate on technological solutions, with an expert committee tasked to evaluate startup proposals within three months. The Minister emphasised maintaining high-quality standards in surveillance technology and encouraged small firms to participate in government tenders with innovative solutions. He called for collaboration between all stakeholders, the government, the private sector, and startups to enhance road safety and achieve international standards in India’s road and transport sectors. 

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