NHAI Hosts Training to Advance Zero Fatality Road Safety Plan

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has held a Road Safety Training Programme in New Delhi to strengthen technical and on-ground expertise to support the government’s Zero Fatality Attainment (ZFA) vision. The training focused on various aspects of road safety through interactive modules, including identifying accident-prone zones using the Drone Analytics Monitoring System (DAMS), developing site-specific mitigation strategies, execution safety during construction, and monitoring progress. Shri K.N. Srivastava, Retired Secretary of Civil Aviation and Director at India International Centre, New Delhi, served as the Chief Guest. Shri Vishal Chauhan, Member.

Administration emphasized the importance of engineering design, human behaviour, and vehicle engineering as the three pillars of safer roads. The ZFA approach aims to eliminate preventable deaths and serious injuries. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has been consistently working on measures that aim to reduce road accidents and save lives on highways. In line with its long-term vision, the authority has hosted a specialized training program dedicated to advancing the Zero Fatality Road Safety Plan, a mission-driven initiative that seeks to align India’s highways with international standards of safety. Road accidents in India have long been a cause of concern.

With over 1.5 lakh lives lost annually, according to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH). The training focused on equipping engineers, contractors, and officials with modern strategies that not only target accident reduction but also foster a safer driving culture across the nation India’s rapid infrastructure growth has brought both opportunities and challenges. Expanding highways, metro projects, and urban mobility solutions are making travel more efficient, but the rising number of vehicles has increased accident risks. Factors like over speeding, reckless driving, poor road design, and lack of awareness among drivers contribute significantly to.

Training Approach and Knowledge Building

Fatalities. NHAI’s training initiative under the Zero Fatality Road Safety Plan comes at a crucial time, aiming to balance infrastructure development with safety improvements. By adopting strategies inspired by successful global models such as Sweden’s Vision Zero, India hopes to replicate a decline in road-related deaths. The training program emphasized a multi-dimensional approach to safety. Instead of restricting discussions to engineering solutions alone, the sessions integrated behavioural aspects, traffic enforcement, and technology adoption. Experts highlighted the role of road safety audits, accident data analysis, and identification of black spots on highways.

The idea was to create an ecosystem where every stage of road development from planning to execution has safety as its core principle In particular, NHAI officials discussed how road contractors and consultants need to integrate safety audits at the design stage rather than treating them as post-construction measures. This shift ensures that potential hazards are minimized before highways become operational. Such initiatives resonate with ongoing national projects, including the (Cabinet-Approved), where road safety components are also being emphasized to enhance project sustainability.

Role of Technology in Road Safety

Technology emerged as one of the strongest pillars during the training. Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS), AI-based monitoring, speed enforcement cameras, and automatic number plate recognition were showcased as tools that can transform how highways are managed. With India investing heavily in smart infrastructure, the integration of digital technology into road safety makes highways future-ready For instance, the use of real-time data monitoring systems can help authorities track accident-prone stretches and deploy rapid response teams. AI-enabled traffic signals can improve vehicle flow and reduce bottlenecks, thereby cutting down collision risks.

These developments align with other infrastructure expansions such as the (MMRDA) which also emphasizes digital solutions for smooth commuter experience. Another significant highlight of the NHAI training was the emphasis on partnerships. Road safety requires a collective effort involving not just highway authorities but also state governments, law enforcement agencies, NGOs, and local communities. Awareness programs are being expanded to schools, colleges, and driving institutions to instil responsible driving practices from an early age. Police departments are also being trained to adopt stricter but more systematic enforcement strategies.

Sustainability and Green Highways

Such collaborations have already shown positive results in other sectors. For example, the demonstrated how government bodies can work hand-in-hand with industry to improve compliance and reduce risks. NHAI aims to replicate similar models by ensuring that road safety awareness becomes a shared responsibility Road safety is not just about accident prevention but also about building sustainable infrastructure. The Zero Fatality Road Safety Plan includes the concept of green highways, where eco-friendly designs are merged with safety features. Planting trees along highways to serve as natural crash barriers, using recycled materials for construction, and implementing noise-reducing.

Pavements are all part of this integrated approach Sustainability has been a recurring theme in India’s infrastructure development. Projects such as show how industries are blending environmental responsibility with growth. Similarly, NHAI’s training underlines that highways of the future must be both safe and sustainable The training is also aligned with international goals such as the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety (2021–2030), which calls for halving road traffic deaths and injuries by 2030. India’s active participation in these global commitments shows a determined stance to bring down accident rates. Collaborations with institutions like the World Bank and Asian.

Development Bank have further strengthened India’s capacity to implement large-scale safety measures The NHAI initiative mirrors the strategies adopted by developed countries where fatalities have been significantly reduced through consistent enforcement, public awareness, and engineering reforms. With India’s scale and diversity, the challenge is larger, but the Zero Fatality Road Safety Plan offers a structured roadmap. While the training was a key step, its real impact will depend on consistent implementation. NHAI has announced that road audits will become mandatory for all new projects, and corrective measures will be taken on identified black spots.

The Road Ahead: From Training to Implementation

Public campaigns encouraging helmet use, seatbelt compliance, and anti-distracted driving will also run alongside infrastructural upgrades This integrated approach ensures that the outcomes are long-term and measurable. Just as are reshaping agricultural infrastructure, the Zero Fatality Road Safety Plan aims to reshape how people perceive and experience road travel in India. The goal is not only fewer accidents but also a safer environment where highways become trusted corridors of connectivity The NHAI training program on the Zero Fatality Road Safety Plan reflects a significant shift in India’s infrastructure planning from being mobility-centric to safety-centric.

By combining training, technology, partnerships, and sustainability, the authority is laying down a framework that can save thousands of lives annually. Road safety is not merely a technical issue; it is a cultural change that requires awareness, responsibility, and collective participation As India moves forward with ambitious projects like and other national infrastructure pushes, integrating safety into every level of execution will be the cornerstone of progress. With initiatives like these, the vision of safer highways and a reduction in fatalities is not just a distant dream but an achievable reality that aligns with both national priorities and global commitments.