IIT Madras Partners with Odisha for Road Safety Innovation
Bhubaneswar: In a significant step toward strengthening road safety, the Odisha Commerce & Transport Department, in collaboration with IIT Madras’ RBG Labs, organised a three‑day training program on “Design Thinking for Safer Roads.” The initiative, held ahead of National Road Safety Month 2026, brought together nearly 50 engineers from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the Public Works Department (PWD).
Led by Prof. Venkatesh Balasubramanian of IIT Madras, the program emphasised practical, field‑oriented learning. On the first day, participants studied accident trends and safety challenges before conducting field visits to identify gaps and propose solutions.
The second day featured demonstrations of IIT Madras’ Integrated Road Safety Dashboard, enabling engineers to conduct audits using satellite imagery and field data.
The final day saw participants present their findings and recommendations, focusing on low‑cost safety measures, enforcement strategies, emergency response systems, and driver behaviour.
Sessions also highlighted provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act and global best practices in crash prevention.
Officials noted that the training reflects Odisha’s commitment to evidence‑based strategies and aligns with the state’s long‑term vision of Viksit Odisha 2036.
Participants praised the program’s hands‑on approach, which combined data‑driven insights with real‑world engineering solutions.
