Gadkari stresses AI and advanced technologies for better road safety
Highlighting alarming statistics, Gadkari noted that India records approximately five lakh road accidents annually, with a significant proportion of fatalities affecting individuals aged 18-36. He estimated the economic loss from accidents at nearly 3% of the nation’s GDP. Improving road safety, he stressed, is a top government priority, with several initiatives already underway.
The minister advocated for improving road engineering using state-of-the-art global technologies and expressed interest in collaborating with Indian startups and young engineers working on innovative safety solutions. Gadkari stressed that road safety can only be achieved by integrating engineering advancements, effective law enforcement, and AI-driven technologies.
He further discussed the ministry's push toward tech-based law enforcement, including the use of AI for traffic violation detection, enabling precise penalties. Gadkari also shared plans to modernise toll collection by exploring satellite-based tolling systems to enhance efficiency and transparency.
To accelerate progress, the government will appoint experts from the private sector to develop new safety technologies. A dedicated committee will evaluate proposals from startups and industry leaders, with a three-month timeline to finalise its assessments and ensure rapid improvements.
Gadkari assured that quality and standards will remain uncompromised, regardless of whether solutions come from large corporations or small firms. He encouraged smaller companies with innovative technologies to participate in government tenders, emphasising the need for cost-effective solutions without compromising profitability. (ET)