Revolutionizing India's Transportation with Intelligent Mobility Solutions
The Urgent Need for Smarter Mobility Systems
At the recent NTRO International Technical Conference 2025 in Melbourne, ITS India President Akhilesh Srivastava spoke about how Intelligent Transport Systems in India are contributing to safer, smarter outcomes by addressing the nation’s critical mobility challenges. As India’s urban population surges and vehicle ownership grows exponentially, our transportation infrastructure faces unprecedented strain. With over 172,000 road fatalities annually and economic losses exceeding ₹3.14 lakh crore due to congestion, the status quo is no longer sustainable. The solution lies in Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) – where technology meets transportation to create safer, greener and more efficient mobility networks.
Having recently represented India at this global forum, I witnessed firsthand how nations are leveraging ITS to transform their transport ecosystems. As highlighted in my presentation, India’s journey in this space, while challenging, presents tremendous opportunities for innovation at scale through strategic deployment of ITS solutions.
1.) Creating the Policy Framework
The ITS India Forum has played a pivotal role in developing India’s first National ITS Policy, which will soon be unveiled. This comprehensive framework:
- Integrates proven global approaches while tackling India’s unique issues.
- Establishes standards for interoperability across states and cities
- Creates funding mechanisms for large-scale ITS deployments
2.) Groundbreaking Pilot Projects
In my Melbourne address, I showcased how we’re implementing cutting-edge solutions across diverse scenarios:
For Safety:
AI-powered Driver Assistance Systems reducing accidents by up to 60%
- V2X Communication networks preventing 80% of preventable crashes
- National Safe Driving Score Program incentivizing better driver behavior
For Efficiency:
- Smart Traffic Management Systems reducing congestion by 30-40% in pilot cities
- Predictive Analytics for Highway Maintenance cutting repair costs by 25%
- Integrated Multi-Modal Transit Hubs improving first/last mile connectivity
For Sustainability:
- EV Charging Corridors along major highways
- Dynamic Tolling Systems reducing idling and emissions
- Freight Optimization Platforms cutting empty truck runs by 35%
The Road Safety Emergency – Our Tech-Driven Response
As highlighted in my conference presentation, India accounts for 11% of global road fatalities, even though it possesses only 1% of the world’s vehicles. Our Road Safety 2.0 Initiative tackles this through:
1.) Preventive Technologies:
- Automatic braking through ADAS results in 50-60% fewer rear-end crashes.
- Lane keeping systems contribute to a 30-50% decrease in lane-change accidents.
- AI-powered black spots identification and remediation
2.) Enforcement 2.0:
- Automated traffic violation detection systems
- Blockchain-enabled driver license and vehicle records
- Predictive policing using accident pattern analysis
3.) Emergency Response:
- GPS-enabled crash notification systems
- Drone-based medical supply delivery to accident sites
- Hospital preparedness mapping using historical data
Building an ITS Ecosystem for India’s Future
Beyond technology deployment, we’re focused on:
Capacity Building:
- Establishing ITS Centers of Excellence at IITs and NITs nationwide
- Certification programs for over 50,000 ITS professionals by 2030
Industry Collaboration:
- Public-private partnerships for ITS infrastructure
- Startup incubation for mobility innovations
Global Knowledge Sharing:
- India to host the ITS World Congress in 2027
- Publishing the ITS Practitioner’s Journal for case studies and research
Smart Mobility as the Way Forward for Viksit Bharat
As I shared with global delegates in Melbourne, our work towards the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision positions ITS as the backbone of:
- 50+ Smart Cities with seamless mobility integration
- 10,000+ km of Intelligent Highways with connected vehicle infrastructure
- Targeting a 50% decrease in road deaths by 2030
The transformation requires collective effort – government agencies, private sector, academia and citizens must come together. The ITS India Forum remains committed to driving this change through innovation, collaboration and execution excellence.
The future of mobility isn’t just about moving people – it’s about moving India forward.
