New Delhi: In a significant move towards enhancing road safety on national highways, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has forged a strategic partnership with the Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology, Delhi (IIIT Delhi), leveraging advanced artificial intelligence (AI) solutions.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between NHAI and IIIT Delhi on Thursday. Under this agreement, IIIT Delhi will undertake comprehensive surveys across approximately 25,000 kilometers of selected national highway stretches to assess the availability and condition of road signages.
“The collaboration aims to employ AI-based technologies to collect imagery and data crucial for identifying and categorizing road signs accurately,” stated the MoRTH. IIIT Delhi will process the survey data using AI algorithms, which will facilitate the geo-stamped inventory of existing road signs, including their structural condition and other pertinent details.
Moreover, IIIT Delhi will conduct a detailed gap analysis to align the survey findings with the established road signages plan as per contractual agreements. This study will incorporate the latest codal provisions, particularly focusing on high-speed corridors to meet enhanced safety standards.
“By harnessing AI and Geographic Information Systems (GIS), NHAI intends to significantly bolster road safety measures for all users of the National Highway network,” highlighted the ministry.
This initiative comes in the wake of NHAI’s proactive measures to reduce road accidents, including expedited identification and rectification of black spots on highways. According to the latest Road Accidents in India report for 2022, there were 4.61 lakh reported road accidents resulting in 1.68 lakh fatalities and 4.43 lakh injuries. This underscores the urgent need for innovative approaches to mitigate risks and enhance safety infrastructure on highways.
The collaboration between NHAI and IIIT Delhi marks a pivotal step towards integrating cutting-edge technologies into India’s infrastructure development, aligning with global standards of road safety management. As the project progresses, stakeholders anticipate significant advancements in AI-driven solutions tailored to optimize highway signage and ensure safer journeys for millions of commuters nationwide.
The partnership not only underscores NHAI’s commitment to leveraging technology for safer highways but also highlights IIIT Delhi’s role as a pioneering institution in fostering innovation in the domain of transportation and infrastructure management.
As the initiative unfolds, stakeholders and the public alike will keenly observe the impact of AI-powered interventions in transforming India’s highway safety landscape, setting a precedent for future collaborations in advancing national infrastructure with state-of-the-art technological solutions.
