NHAI has built India’s first animal overpass to protect wildlife.
This 12 km long structure on the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway is not just a road feature.
It’s a message that infrastructure and ecology can coexist.
This stretch features natural-looking bridges and underpasses, designed to allow animals like tigers, deer, and leopards to cross safely.
The family was returning from Mumbai to Nashik when this accident occurred.
There were two main reasons behind this massive accident.
– Sunil Hekre (industrialist) didn’t wear his seatbelt while traveling.
– There was waterlogging on the highway, which made the accident more severe.
That car had nine airbags, but none of them could save him.
Before the pandemic, a 20 km journey could be completed in 40 minutes.
Today, the same trip stretches to 1.5 hours.
The reason behind this slowdown is:
➤ Pune alone has over 4.5 million registered vehicles, almost one for every resident.
➤ Public transport is lagging, with limited bus fleets.
➤ Infrastructure is not as per the growth in vehicles.
The hidden causes behind road accidents are Defective road designs & Poor DPRs. It was an honor to listen to Shri Nitin Gadkari Ji at the prestigious Global Road Infratech Summit & Expo (GRIS 2025), organized by IRF. Key Takeaways from His Address: 🔵 Better Road Engineering is a Must – Small civil mistakes often lead to major accidents. India must adopt global best practices from Spain, Austria, and Switzerland in road design, signage, and markings. 🔵 Stronger Planning & Execution – Faulty DPRs and poor road designs cannot be ignored. Engineers, consultants, and planners must ensure quality and safety at every stage. 🔵 Sustainable & Smart Solutions – Innovation in eco-friendly construction materials will enhance both safety & sustainability. 🔵 India’s Goal – 50% Fewer Accidents by 2030, a bold but necessary step he mentioned. The Stark Reality is that India has the highest number of road accident fatalities in the world, and the numbers are rising every year. 📉 2021: 1,53,972 deaths📉 2022: 1,68,471 deaths📉 2023: >172,000 deaths – A 10% increase YoY Globally, road fatalities are decreasing by 5%, while India’s are rising. Clearly, conventional methods aren’t working. Road Safety 2.0 is a next generation approach to make India’s roads safer. The integration of advanced technologies into road safety can drastically reduce accidents. Technology is democratic and scalable. Global studies and pilot projects have proven the effectiveness of tech as ✅ Collision Warning & Automatic Braking (ADAS) → Reduces rear-end crashes by 50-60%✅ Lane Departure Warning (LDW) & Lane-Keep Assist (LKA) → Cuts lane-change accidents by 30-50%✅ Blind Spot Detection (BSD) → Reduces crashes by 14%✅ Speed Alerts & Driver Monitoring Systems (DMS) → Lowers speed-related accidents by 30-40%✅ Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) Communication → Prevents up to 80% of crashes (NHTSA data) We need a simultaneous Top-Down & Bottom-Up approach with all stakeholders, including policymakers, to drive change. 👉 Forced Enforcement by Govt:– Automated Enforcement Systems: Real-time AI-based violation tracking & automated penalty issuance– V2X, LiDAR, AI Cameras, IoT-based detection 👉 Self-Enforcement:Through Incentives & Policy Support:🔹 Reduced Registration & Insurance Premiums for drivers with high Safe Driving Scores🔹 Tax Exemptions on road safety devices (helmets, airbags, seatbelts, sensors, cameras, pedestrian safety gear)🔹 PLI Scheme for Road Safety – Boosting the hardware & software industry in safety innovation🔹 Public Access to e-DAR / iRAD Data – Encouraging startups & youth to develop safety tech solutions Road safety is not just about discussions—it’s about execution. Let’s act NOW to make Indian roads safer & smarter. Originally shared by Akhilesh Srivastava on LinkedIn →
A highly contagious disease is spreading all across India. I am talking about wrong-side driving. Over 70,000 wrong-side driving incidents were recorded in 2024. After all the risks individuals take to save time and fuel, they end up putting their lives and fellow drivers in danger. Drivers on the correct side don’t anticipate that a vehicle can come in the opposite direction, so they often drive at high speed. On the other hand, people on the wrong side feel that if they drive faster, they can reach their destination early and evade detection. But as they encounter a driver approaching them in the opposite direction, they often freeze in shock. And even before they gain control of their senses, they crash into each other. These accidents are head-on collisions. As a result of which, the injuries are fatal and often lead to death. Improving surveillance systems and installing road sensors can help detect wrong-side driving and prevent these fatal accidents. Wrong-side driving is not just a violation of traffic rules; it’s a deadly gamble with lives. What is your take on this? Originally shared by Akhilesh Srivastava on LinkedIn →
India stands on the brink of history as ISRO launches its 100th Satellite! The GSLV-F15/NVS-02 lifted off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, marking yet another milestone in our space journey. This launch is not just about sending another satellite into space; it’s about strengthening NavIC – our very own GPS system – and making India self-reliant in space technology. In the last decade, ISRO’s achievements have been incredible: – With Chandrayaan, we took India to the moon!– The Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) made us the first country to reach Mars on its maiden attempt. Becoming the first country to reach Mars on its maiden attempt.– With Aditya L-1, we’re one step closer to unveiling the mysteries of the Sun. And now, with the 100th satellite launch, we’re proving ourselves to be a pioneer in space technology. With each mission, ISRO redefines the limits of what we can achieve as a nation. As the countdown begins, I want to salute the team that’s taking India to new heights. What’s your favorite ISRO mission so far, and where do you see ISRO in the future? Originally shared by Akhilesh Srivastava on LinkedIn →
Safe Highways for All: NHAI’s Cattle Shelters Revolutionize Road Safety and Animal Welfare Out of all the inconveniences on the road, stray cattle are the most dangerous threat for drivers and themselves! The NHAI recently launched a pilot project to construct and maintain cattle shelters along the highways. These strategically placed shelters will:✦ Provide safe spaces for stray cattle, preventing them from wandering on the roads.✦ Reduce the risks of unexpected accidents by them.✦ Promote both road safety and animal welfare. By partnering with local authorities and NGOs, NHAI ensures these shelters are managed effectively and sustainably. This initiative isn’t just about road accidents- it’s about creating a highway ecosystem where both human lives and animals are valued. If successful, this could be a nationwide model, setting a new standard for highway management in India. Such thoughtful steps remind us that infrastructure development must consider all lives- human and animal alike. What other measures could improve road safety in India? Originally shared by Akhilesh Srivastava on LinkedIn →
India’s Road Safety Challenges: High-Speed Growth, Outdated Enforcement, and Behavioral Gaps – Insights from Akhilesh Srivastava at SAFAR 2025 Sharing his perspective at the 1st Summit on Automotive Future Advancement in Road Safety (SAFAR) organised along the sidelines of Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025, Mr. Akhilesh Srivastava, President, ITS India, said, “If we diagnose the reasons behind the road accidents in India, we come across multiple reasons. Previously the high-speed corridors in India were very limited, which increased by 10X in recent years. The number of vehicles also increased by 10X in the same time. The enforcement systems are old. We haven’t been able to change the behaviour of people.” Originally shared by Akhilesh Srivastava on LinkedIn →
Revolutionizing Mobility: Intelligent Transport Systems to Drive India’s Vision of Viksit Bharat@2047 At the Bharat Mobility Expo 2025, the Honourable Prime Minister highlighted the need for an intelligent and integrated transportation system to achieve the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047. He emphasized that modern mobility solutions are crucial for India’s economic growth, road safety, and reduced logistics costs. Aligning with this vision, ITS India Forum is dedicated to advancing Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) in the country. It’s irony that India invests nearly INR 11 trillion annually to modernize its transport infrastructure but loses 5 % of its GDP due to transportation inefficiencies and safety issues. To address this, the ITS India Forum advocates integrating these with cutting-edge ITS solutions. ITS creates an intelligent interface between citizens and transportation systems, maximizing the benefits of extensive infrastructure investments. The future of Mobility is – Infrastructure + Vehicle + Technology = Intelligent Transport System (ITS). Our collaborative efforts with global ITS forums, IITs, and IIMs are delivering practical, tailor-made solutions for India’s unique challenges. Together, we can reshape the future of mobility in India, making transportation safer, efficient, affordable, inclusive and sustainable. For more details visit – itsindiaforum.com/ Originally shared by Akhilesh Srivastava on LinkedIn →
This Bengaluru-based startup, MetroRide Kids, is changing the way kids travel. For working parents, managing busy schedules while ensuring safe transport for their kids becomes hectic. Everyone wants the best for their children; overcrowded buses or unreliable transport options often leave them in doubt regarding their safety. To tackle all these, India’s first app-based transport service for children is designed to ensure both safety and convenience. With features like:📌 Trained drivers- who are skilled at handling kids.📌 GPS tracking- for real-time updates.📌 CCTV cameras- for complete surveillance. This thoughtful service is also eco-friendly, operating on electric vehicles to promote sustainability. From school runs to coaching classes and after-school activities, MetroRide Kids ensures parents do not compromise between work commitments and children’s safety. After a successful launch in Hyderabad, this innovative solution is now expanding to Bengaluru, providing much relief to families in the city. Tech-driven solutions like these are a game-changer in creating safer, more sustainable cities for the next generation. Let’s leverage more such innovations that prioritize safety, sustainability, and convenience. Would you consider using such a service? Picture credits: StartupPedia Originally shared by Akhilesh Srivastava on LinkedIn →