IIT Madras, Chhattisgarh Govt team up for data-driven road safety in 9 districts
- IIT Madras and Chhattisgarh government sign MoU for road safety project.
- Interventions will be launched in nine high-risk districts across the state.
- Data analytics, engineering audits, and capacity building are key components.
New partnership targets accident-prone districts
The Indian Institute of Technology Madras has joined hands with the Chhattisgarh government to roll out data-driven road safety interventions across nine priority districts. The initiative aims to curb the rising number of road accidents in the state through systematic analysis and targeted action.
Officials from both sides signed a memorandum of understanding earlier this week. The project will be implemented in districts identified as high-risk based on historical accident data. The nine districts have not been named by the institute yet.
How the programme will work
IIT Madras will deploy its expertise in data analytics and traffic engineering to study crash patterns. The team will identify black spots — locations where accidents occur frequently — and suggest engineering fixes.
The interventions will include redesigning junctions, improving signage, and modifying road geometry. The institute will also conduct road safety audits on major corridors in the selected districts.
Capacity building and monitoring
Beyond engineering solutions, the partnership includes training programmes for local officials. Police personnel, public works department engineers, and transport department staff will be trained in data collection and analysis.
A real-time monitoring dashboard is also being planned. It will track accident trends and measure the impact of the interventions over time. The state government will fund the project, though specific budget details have not been disclosed.
Context and significance
Chhattisgarh has reported thousands of road accidents annually, with a significant number resulting in fatalities. The state government has been looking for scientific methods to bring down the numbers.
IIT Madras has previously worked on similar projects in Tamil Nadu and other states. The institute’s Centre for Innovation in Traffic and Transportation Engineering will lead the effort. Faculty members and research scholars will be involved in ground-level data collection and analysis.
The project is expected to run for an initial period of two years. If successful, the model could be scaled up to cover more districts in the state.
The next step involves finalising the list of black spots and starting detailed surveys. Officials expect the first set of interventions to be implemented within six months.