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SMART TODAY SMARTER TOMORROW

important factors for companies in India. The guiding principle
who want to invest in a country— (s) of conducting business of
anti-bribery and road safety. As all members are transparency,
per Khan’s assessment, there is statutory compliance, and ethical
less interest among the existing conduct, with an intensive
construction companies in focus on safety of road users
India where safety is the least as well as road workers, with
parameters considered. And joint effort, to effect reduction
that’s why there is a need for an in accidents on roads (toll plaza
association which can be voice operations, route patrol, incident
and ears of the O&M industry. management ambulance services
“A structured He said, “A structured strategy, and maintenance etc.). “For
with the help of technology,
the deployment of a holistic,
strategy, with can minimise road causalities.” cooperative, safe and sustainable
the help of He further added, “Use of road transport ecosystem, HOAI
robotic flagman, improvement in
intends to proactively collaborate
technology, can response time using mobile-based with, key government bodies such
minimise road applications, making signboard in as NHAI (a technology-driven,
story format using animation can
safety-sensitive, future-oriented,
causalities help in the reduction of accidents progressive nodal agency of
and improvement in safety.” Government of India), MoRTH
- Dr Zafar Khan
Meanwhile, being a member (progressive policymaker).”
of the Highway Operators’ Ravishankar Rajaraman,
Association of India (HOAI), Khan Technical Director, JP Research
throughout the country. To make explained how it operates. The India Pvt Ltd talked about the
swift decisions on black spots, members of HOAI acquire road lethargic crash investigation and
MoRTH has delegated powers concessions post-construction data collection in India. According
to the NHAI’s regional offices to and mainly focus on the to him, there is barely any data
take up short-term and long-term operation and maintenance available for decisions making on
measures with diagnostic studies of road assets through the road safety in India. Sharing his
to identify black spots. “We have application of best practices. experience while working with
permitted ROs to spend Rs 50Cr Currently, members of HOAI the police department, he felt
per black spot and implement have 46 concessions which span there were deficiencies and poor
the remedial measures,” he over 4,000 km of national and analysis of crash events. Here
informed. He assured that with state highways across 12 states the blame is proportioned to the
the delegation of power to ROs,
commuters could expect speedy
measures taken by NHAI and
MoRTH for road safety. In case There is barely any
of pedestrians, NHAI has asked data available for
their respective ROs to construct
FOBs or subways, at necessary decisions making on
spots and is working on IT-based road safety in India
solution for accident-prone areas.
Taking the discussion further, - Ravishankar Rajaraman
Dr Zafar Khan, Head Operations,
Peak Infrastructure Management
Services Pvt. Ltd talked about two

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