Transport ministry approves UP's AI-based project to improve road safety
The Union Ministry of Road Transport & Highways on Monday issued a formal No Objection for the UP Transport Department's Artificial Intelligence and Big Data Analytics based Road Safety Pilot Project.
This is the first AI-driven road safety experiment ever undertaken by a state transport department in India. The pilot project will be implemented at zero cost by the public sector enterprise ITI Limited in partnership with global technology firm mLogica, according to a statement issued by the Uttar Pradesh government.
The state government has already earmarked ₹10 crore in its 2025-26 Budget to establish a "data-driven administrative model" for the Transport Department, it noted.
Initial prototype of the model, scheduled for six weeks, will integrate multi-source data accident records, weather feeds, vehicle telematics, driver profiles and roadway attributes to build AI models that pinpoint root causes of accidents, forecast black spots and generate realtime policy dashboards.
Upon completion, the AI engine will be rolled out in a phased manner across all core functions of the Transport Department, including faceless licensing and permits, modernised enforcement, revenue collection, e-challan operations and the 'Vahan Sarathi' registries.
A comprehensive outcome report will be submitted to the MoRTH at the end of the pilot project, while legal compliance, data privacy and cybersecurity standards will be continuously audited, the statement added.
The ministry also asserted that the initiative must fully comply with the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 and all road safety standard operating procedures and it will entail no financial liability for the MoRTH.
Building on the evidence generated during the testing phase, the AI will be embedded into other digital assets. The project will integrate the engine with the paperless licensing and permit mechanism, allowing systems to run on self-learning decision models, statement added.
Concurrently, the enforcement wing will deploy realtime fraud detection, vehicle positioning and predictive policing based on propensity to violate traffic laws, giving field officers data-backed alarms for on-the-spot action.
By fusing these data-sets, the department will gain a virtual dashboard covering income flows, infractions and credential status thus sharpening policy design, according to the statement.
Transport Commissioner Brajesh Narain Singh stated, "This initiative will place Uttar Pradesh at the fore front of data-driven governance. By integrating the AI model beyond road safety into every core function of the department, we aim to make our state a national trail blazer in technological innovation."
The ITI limited and mLogica team have been authorised to begin work immediately in coordination with the department, the statement noted.
This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
9 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Low speed limit key in draft regulations for e-rickshaws
New Delhi: The Union ministry of road transport and highways (MoRTH) has issued a draft notification proposing stricter regulations for e-rickshaws and e-carts, including a mandatory fitness certificate, similar to other transport vehicles, and a cap on speed limit to 25 km per hour from the existing 30kph. Low speed limit key in draft regulations for e-rickshaws The draft notification published on July 22 proposes enacting these regulations by modifying the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989. The ministry has sought comments and feedback from the public on the draft rules till August 22. The rules also mandate all e-rickshaws and e-carts to be equipped with lithium-ion battery packs that meet the performance requirements outlined in AIS-156 as updated from time to draft rules propose that all e-rickshaws and e-carts must comply with updated construction and safety standards. 'On and after 1st April 2026, all manufacturers of Erickshaw and E-cart, as part of the type approval procedure, shall undergo an audit of their manufacturing facilities and process, to establish quality control. The audit shall be done by the test agency, undertaking the type approval process of E-rickshaw and E-cart,' the draft read. They will be subjected to audits of their manufacturing facilities and processes from April 1, 2026. However, manufacturers with International Automotive Task Force (IATF) certification or equivalent will be exempt from this audit process and will only have to comply with document verification, according to the draft notification. Currently, e-rickshaws, unlike conventional autorickshaws, do not require to be registered as a motorised vehicle in many Indian states and were exempt from Motor Vehicles Act provisions until 2015. Presently due to lack of adequate regulatory framework, vehicles often run of lead-acid batteries which pose a fire safety risk. The proposed regulations, aimed at enhancing safety and standardising manufacturing processes, come at a time when Union transport minister Nitin Gadkari has been publicly speaking about safety and longevity issues involving e-rickshaws, which have become a ubiquitous last-mile connectivity option in rural and urban areas alike. The number of e-rickshaws are estimated to be 1.81 million in number across India till November 2024, according to a WRI-India report based on the government's Vahan database. Reacting to this draft notification, Piyush Tewari, Founder and CEO, SaveLIFE Foundation, said e-rickshaws form the backbone of last-mile transport but often operate without adequate safety oversight. 'Given their structural vulnerabilities and the high exposure of passengers, instituting basic fitness standards is essential,' he said. Tewari added that reducing the speed limit from 30 km/h to 25 km/h is a prudent move. 'Even minor speed reductions can significantly lower crash severity, particularly in dense urban environments,' he said.
Time of India
17 hours ago
- Time of India
No Helmet, No Petrol: Two-wheeler riders debate efficacy of order
Indore: With approximately 10 lakh two-wheelers plying on Indore roads, a new directive from district administration has ignited an intense debate among commuters on how it would be implemented. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now From Aug 1, two-wheeler riders without helmets will be denied petrol at fuel stations across the district. This prohibitory order, issued by Collector and District Magistrate Asheesh Singh under Section 163 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Adhiniyam 2023, aims to drastically improve road safety. Adding to the strict measures, Regional Transport Officer (RTO) Pradeep Kumar Sharma warned that driving licences of two-wheeler riders found without helmets would be suspended or cancelled as per Motor Vehicles Act. Sharma emphasised that wearing a helmet was mandatory and crucial for head safety in case of an accident. He instructed all RTO staff to strictly adhere to the helmet rule and begin denying entry to two-wheeler riders without helmets at the transport office itself. "Since 1950, around 16 lakh two-wheelers have been registered in Indore and of these, about 10 lakh are expected to be on the roads," the RTO said, adding more than 70 percent of riders don't wear helmets. "Besides, there are around 23,000 electric scooters registered in Indore. Though these are battery-run vehicles and don't need petrol, their riders also need to wear helmets," he said. Following the order, Mayor Pushyamitra Bhargava wrote to collector, urging him to extend restrictions on entry of two-wheeler riders in any govt office without helmets. It's, however, not the first time such a rule was announced. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "Earlier, it was a public awareness campaign and the announcement was experimental. This time, however, an order was issued under Section 163 of BNSS to ensure its proper implementation," the collector said. The new rule elicited mixed reactions from city's commuters. Many welcomed the move, citing safety as main reason. Kamlesh Kumawat, a building contractor, said, "I always wear a helmet and even urge my friends and family members to do so for safety reasons. It also protects from harsh weather along with pollution." Rina Sonwane, a schoolteacher, echoed the sentiment. "I wear a helmet whenever I ride a scooter and also teach the same to my students. Life is important and above all inconvenience." Some raised concerns, questioning the practicality given the city's road condition and traffic. Ravi Shakyawar, a 27-year-old office-goer, expressed frustration: "I purchased a 250 CC sports bike, but the roads are not even capable of giving full throttle to a moped. The vehicles crawl bumper-to-bumper and thus, not posing any concern of accident. They should first improve the roads before making helmets compulsory, as it makes the ride more difficult. " Raghu Goyal, a garment shopkeeper in the busy Rajwada area, shared similar views, complaining about parking and snail-paced traffic, thus opposing the compulsion of wearing a helmet. Despite the ongoing debate, the administration remains firm on its decision, signalling a strong commitment to enforcing traffic discipline and enhancing road safety in Indore. ----/ Photo Quotes Ayush Raikwar, college student It's tough to ride on congested roads of city and wearing a helmet will add to woes. Helmet is important for road safety, but it's needed on highways and not on city roads, where average speed won't be 20kmph in daytime Iqbal Singh, lawyer As per the law, it's compulsory to wear a helmet. Not only for the rider, but also for the pillion. The rules are already there and thus, the administration should just ensure their proper implementation. Jitendra Jain, property broker I ride scooter for very short distances like 1-3 km for daily work, and for that, bearing additional load of helmet doesn't make any sense for me. If it's required to get petrol, we have no choice but to wear it Ashok Khade, Ret bank officer It's good move to save lives. People should wear helmets for safety reasons and help reduce fatalities in road accidents. If possible, the resident welfare societies should also make such a rule to promote this practice
Time of India
17 hours ago
- Time of India
Despite curbs, heavy vehicles ply during peak hours in Keonjhar dist, cause traffic jams
1 2 Keonjhar: Despite restrictions on movement of trucks on different roads in Keonjhar district, heavy vehicles continue to ply in Champua sub-division, causing severe traffic jams and at times leading to accidents. On June 19, the district collector had ordered restriction on movement of trucks at a meeting in Champua. "Exercising the power conferred by Section 115 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, I have restricted the movement of heavy vehicles except those carrying essential commodities on the roads in Joda, Barbil and Champua areas," Keonjhar district collector Vishal Singh, who is also the chairman of district road transport authority, said. The roads where violations have been taking place include Rugudi to Beliepada, Bileipada to Tarini Chowk, Joda municipality, Barbil municipality and Champua NAC areas. Heavy vehicles are restricted from 8 am to 11 am and 3 pm to 8 pm on Rugudi to Beliepada and Bileipada to Tarini Chowk stretch, as well as Champua NAC area, while the restriction in Joda and Barbil municipality areas is from 6 am to 2 pm and 3 pm to 8 pm. According to the administration, tippers and trucks do not follow a proper line, causing congestion and create a lot of problems for the people, particularly school-going children and patients. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Advancing AATD-LD Medicine with Research Takeda WeConnect Learn More Undo "Traffic jams are common. Many times school buses and ambulances get stuck in the truck jam," said social activist Rasananda Behera. "Despite the restriction, many trucks, tippers and trailers are flouting rules and plying during the restriction period. The administration, truck association, and mining lessees are equally responsible for this man-made traffic problem. They must take a decision to check the problem," said Sushil Cainth, a human rights activist from Barbil.
