IRF India Chapter

Seminar on “Safer Roads & Safer Mobility”
2022-06-14 09:30 - 13:00 (Asia/Kolkata) | Seminar Hall No. 1, 2 & 3, India International Centre, 40, Max Mueller Marg, New Delhi – 110003
International Road Federation – India Chapter (IRF-IC) in association with its esteemed member, Avery Dennison, has organized a half-day Seminar on “Safer Roads & Safer Mobility” on Tuesday, 14th June 2022 from 9:30 AM to 1:00 PM at Seminar Hall No. 1, 2 & 3, India International Centre, 40, Max Mueller Marg, New Delhi – 110003.

1st Webinar on the subject “Road Safety Education during Formative Years"
2022-09-20 15:30 - 18:00
IRF India Chapter organized the 1st Webinar in the series, titled “Road Safety Education & Awareness – A Comprehensive Approach” on 20th September 2022 from 13:30 – 18:00 Hrs.

At the outset, Mr. Satish Parakh, President, IRF-IC welcomed the participants at the Webinar. He set the context of the webinar and also briefed the participants about the Webinar series. He invited Mr. K.K. Kapila, President (Emeritus), IRF for his Keynote Address.

Mr. K.K. Kapila, welcomed the participants and spoke about IRF-IC’s recent activities including 5Es activities that IRF-IC has undertaken in the 7 states of India. He also informed the audience about Road Safety Anthem, which IRF has produced in 23 regional and 10 international languages. He welcomed Mr. Gaurav Hariom Gupta, Director, MoRT&H for Ministry’s work in the road safety domain. He, as a Moderator, introduced the Speakers of the Webinar, who are as under:-

1. Mr. Akhilesh Srivastava, Advisor, World Economic Forum (Topic: School Curriculum on Road Safety & Road Safety Club in Schools)

2. Prof. Prajapati Trivedi, Commonwealth Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for SDG Implementation & Distinguished Professor, Management Development Institute, (Topic: Culture of Road Safety starting from Schools & Role and Responsibility of Parents, Teachers, School Administration)

3. Mr. N. Balasubramanian, Skilling Consultant & Master Trainer Road Safety (Topic: Safety in School Transport Fleet & Training of Drivers of School Fleet)

4. Dr. P.K. Sarkar, Consultant, Transport Planning (Topic: Safety for School Buses Using RFID Technology)

Summing up the insights gained from the Presentations, Mr. K.K. Kapila conducted the Question & Answer session.

Recording of 1st Webinar on the subject “Road Safety Education During Formative Years”

2nd Webinar on “Awareness Around Vulnerable Road Users (VRUs) : Biggest Lever for Enhancing Road Safety”
2022-10-20 15:30 - 18:00
IRF India Chapter organized the 2nd Webinar in the series, titled “Road Safety Education & Awareness – A Comprehensive Approach” on 20th October 2022 from 15:30 – 18:00 Hrs.

At the outset, Mr. K.K. Kapila, President (Emeritus), IRF welcomed the participants at the Webinar. He set the context of the webinar and also briefed the participants about the Webinar series. He spoke about IRF-IC’s recent activities including 5Es activities that IRF-IC has undertaken in the 7 states of India. He also informed the audience about Road Safety Anthem, which IRF has produced in 23 regional and 10 international languages. He introduced Prof. P.K. Sikdar, as a Moderator, of the Webinar.

Prof. P.K. Sikdar while introducing the Webinar, shared his presentation and introduced the Speakers of the Webinar.

1. Dr. Navdeep Asija, Traffic Advisor, Government of Punjab (Topic: Focused measures on VRUs)

2. Mr. Rajeev Kapur, Managing Director, Steelbird H-Tech India, (Topic: Mass scale initiatives like use of helmets, lane driving, reflectors, etc. to maximize the impact)

3. Dr. H.M. Naqvi, Chief General Manager, NHAI (Topic: Role of Local & Central Governments)

4. Ms. Aishwarya Raman, Executive Director, OMI Foundation (Topic: Role of Local & Central Governments – A Case Study)

5. Dr. Ammu Gopalakrishnan, Specialist – Traffic Engineering, 3M India Limited (Topic: Road Safety Measures for Vulnerable Road Users)

6. Mr. Pankaj Singh, Head of Safety – Cement Business, Adani Group (Topic: Facilitate Infrastructure for VRUs)

Summing up the insights gained from the Presentations, Prof. P.K. Sikdar conducted the Question & Answer session.

Recording of 2nd Webinar on the subject “Awareness around Vulnerable Road Users (VRUs) : Biggest Lever for Enhancing Road Safety”

3rd Webinar on the subject “Role of Stakeholders in Creating Awareness for Road Safety”
2022-12-07 15:30 - 18:00
IRF India Chapter organized the 3rd and concluding Webinar in the series, titled “Road Safety Education & Awareness – A Comprehensive Approach” on 7th December 2022 from 15:30 – 17:30 Hrs.

Prof. P.K. Sikdar, Advisor, IRF-IC welcomed the participants at the Webinar. He set the context and briefed the participants about the Webinar series. He opined that creating awareness to road safety is one of the key aspects of 5Es of safe road system and knowledge creation was a continuous and iterative process. IRF India’s current webinar series strived in that direction. The present webinar, he mentioned, will present notable Janbhagidari efforts by few not-for-government organizations. With this, he introduced the Webinar Moderator, Prof. Manoranjan Parida, Director, Central Road Research Institute (CRRI).

Prof. Parida introduced the Webinar and the Speakers.

1. Mr. Akhilesh Srivastava, Road Safety Ambassador, IRF (Topic: Role of Social Media for Educating Masses on Road Safety)

2. Mr. Jehaan Kotwal, Director, GoodMind, (Topic: Sensitization of Truck Drivers to Road Safety – An Initiative by HumSafer)

3. Ms. Rajni Gandhi, General Secretary, TRAX Sports Society (Topic: Right Messaging in Road Safety Awareness & Education – Role of Media)

4. Prof. P.K. Sikdar, Advisor, IRF – IC (Topic: Sensitizing Stakeholders for Safety of VRUs)

5. Ms. Vandana Lakhanpal, Co-Founder, Prabhaav Foundation (Topic: Role of Civil Society / Community for Public Awareness on Road Safety (Janbhagidari))

Summing up the insights gained from the Presentations, Prof. Manoranjan Parida conducted the Question & Answer session.

Recording of 3rd Webinar on the subject “Role of Stakeholders in Creating Awareness for Road Safety”

Fast Tracking Road Safety Through 5E's
2023-01-17 09:00 - 17:00
The IRF India Chapter organized a Conference on the theme of “Fast Tracking Road Safety Through 5Es” at the India International Centre, New Delhi on 17th January 2023.The Conference was a part of IRF’s relentless mission aimed at reducing the number of road fatalities and injuries caused by accidents in the country.

PROCEEDINGS

RECORDING

PHOTOGRAPHS

Warmly welcoming the participants to the Conference, Mr. Satish Parakh, President, IRF IC elaborated on the long and distinguished record of various activities of IRF IC and particularly its work on the 5Es of Road Safety, namely, Engineering of Roads, Engineering of Vehicles, Education, Enforcement and Traffic Management and Emergency Care. He felt that incremental knowledge would emerge from the deliberations of the Conference.

The Conference was inaugurated by the Chief Guest, Justice (Retd.) Adarsh Kumar Goel, Chairperson, National Green Tribunal. The Guest of Honour at the event was Justice (Retd.) J.R. Midha.

Mr. K.K. Kapila, Chairman, IRF, delivered the Thematic address elaborating on the five E’s of Road safety, which is the key to improvement in the road safety scenario in the country.

Professionals from Government, Industry and Not for profit organizations well versed with the 5Es of road sector namely, Engineering, Education, Enforcement, and Emergency Care and related aspects addressed the sessions and elaborated on the sub-themes related to the conference theme, making for an in-depth analysis of the various issues involved.

The Conference was well attended by delegates and invitees representing all major stakeholders of the road sector; Ministry of Road Transport, National Highways Authority of India, State Departments and Institutions, Police officials, road sector consultants, suppliers, manufacturers, contractors and concessionaires, ITS companies, environment experts, etc.

The Event covered on 5 aspects, through Panel discussions on:

Engineering of RoadsVehicular Engineering & Policy CorrectionsRoad Safety Education & Mass AwarenessEnforcement & Traffic ManagementEmergency Care Management

The Recommendations arising out of these panel discussions are being collated to be appropriately taken forward for implementation.

IRF-IC Conference on “Vision Zero : Targeting Road Safety by 5Es with Innovative Technologies”
2024-01-24 14:30 - 19:30 | New Delhi, India
IRF India Chapter organized a Conference titled “Vision Zero : Targeting Road Safety by 5Es with Innovative Technologies” on 24th January 2024 from 02:30 pm – 07:30 pm as part of the Observance of Road Safety Month 2024. The Conference was supported by the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways and Sponsored by Maruti Suzuki India Ltd.
The Conference was graced by the Hon’ble Minister, MoRT&H, Shri. Nitin J. Gadkari Ji, Shri. Anurag Jain, IAS, Secretary (RT&H), Shri. Sudhendju J. Sinha, Advisor, Niti Aayog and distinguished Speakers from the Government and the Industry. The Conference was divided into:-

Inaugural Session
Technical Session – 1
Technical Session – 2
Session with the Chief Guest, Hon’ble Minister, MoRT&H

Key highlights of the event are as under:-
At the Inaugural session, IRF president emeritus K K Kapila said promoting a safe transportation system required a holistic approach including engineering of roads, engineering of vehicles, enforcement, education and emergency care.
In his Keynote Address at the Inaugural Session, Mr. Anurag Jain, IAS, Secretary, MoRT&H said road safety audit of all national highways (NHs) in the country will be achieved soon and the ministry plans to launch zero complaint for road maintenance, making all highways fully maintained by the authorities concerned. He further said about 4,000 black spots have been rectified in the last three years. “At present, more than 9,000 black spots have been identified…The ministry has set a challenging target of March 2025 to rectify all black spots in the country,” he said. The linked authorities will be held responsible for pot holes and poor maintenance of roads soon and make them accountable, he added. He informed that across the nation very soon, MoRTH plans to introduce cashless medical treatment for all injured accident victims.
In his address, the Hon’ble Minister (RT&H) informed that the Ministry will soon be adopting qualitative tendering process instead of least cost bidding process to bring in quality and road safety in various projects as qualitative tendering will help incorporating safer road safety features in designs keeping in mind the behavior of the road users. He mentioned that “there have been several cases where officers in the Ministry have down away with safety features in highway projects to bring down costs and in the name of making them financially viable. Road engineering is the biggest culprit for increasing road accidents in the country. Recently road safety audit was done of seven roads in the country about 57 engineering shortcomings were found on Pune-Mumbai expressway alone and 25-28 percent engineering defects on other roads. After rectification of 57 faults on Pune-Mumbai expressway the accident rate has almost come down to zero” said Mr. Gadkari.
Photo Gallery

Media Coverage:

https://www.financialexpress.com/business/roadways-highways-ministry-to-adopt-qualitative-tendering-process-instead-of-l1-system-says-nitin-gadkari-3375463/
https://www.businessworld.in/article/Highway-Ministry-Adopts-Quality-cost-Evaluation-For-Road-Projects-Bids/26-01-2024-507680/
https://www.business-standard.com/industry/news/govt-to-adopt-qualitative-tendering-process-instead-of-l1-system-gadkari-124012500624_1.html
https://www.psuconnect.in/news/morth-to-change-tendering-system-soon-from-l1-bids/40959/

National Conference-cum-exhibition on “REVOLUTIONIZING ROAD INFRA WITH MODERN EQUIPMENT, TECHNOLOGIES, SUSTAINABLE MATERIAL AND POLICY GUIDELINES”
2024-02-29 08:30 - 2024-03-01 19:00 | New Delhi, India
The need for efficient and sustainable road infrastructure has become more crucial than ever in present day. The demand for well-designed and well-maintained roads has increased tremendously. To meet the rapidly growing population & expanding urbanization, it is imperative to revolutionize road infrastructure development by incorporating modern equipment, cutting-edge technologies, sustainable materials, and comprehensive policy guidelines.
Traditional methods of road construction and maintenance are often time-consuming, labour-intensive, and prone to producing low quality. By embracing advanced machinery and tools, such as automated pavers, intelligent compaction systems, and robotic surveying devices, we can significantly enhance the efficiency and accuracy of road construction processes.
Furthermore, the integration of cutting-edge technologies is essential in revolutionizing road infrastructure. Technologies like Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Building Information Modelling (BIM), and AI can provide planning, implementation and management of real-time data and insights, enabling better planning, design, and maintenance of roads.
Traditional road construction materials, such as asphalt, have significant environmental impacts due to their high carbon footprint and non-renewable nature. The sustainable alternatives like recycled materials, bio-based binders, and permeable pavements, can not only contribute to a greener future but also provide cost-effective solutions in the long run.
Lastly, comprehensive policy guidelines are crucial for revolutionizing road infrastructure. Governments and regulatory bodies need to establish clear and forward-thinking policies that promote the adoption of modern equipment, technologies, and sustainable materials should encourage innovation, with appropriate research and development, and ensure the implementation of best practices in road construction and maintenance.
IRF India’s forthcoming National Conference-cum-Exhibition to be held during February 29 – March 1, 2024 will strive to bring together the above aspects through a wide range of Presentations made by Experts as well as showcase for the technologies in the Exhibition which will run concurrently.

Media Coverage
https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/technology/2844333-india-built-around-92000-km-national-highways-in-last-95-years-jain
https://www.newsdrum.in/business/india-built-around-92000-km-national-highways-in-last-95-years-jain-4130030
https://m.economictimes.com/news/economy/infrastructure/govt-has-built-95000-km-of-national-highways-in-last-10-years-road-secretary-anurag-jain/articleshow/108104576.cms
https://www.zeebiz.com/india/news-india-built-around-92000-km-national-highways-in-last-95-years-morth-secretary-278483
https://www.deccanherald.com/india/india-built-92000-kms-of-national-highway-in-last-decade-transport-secretary-anurag-jain-2915734
https://thefederal.com/category/business/india-built-92000-km-of-national-highways-in-last-95-years-jain-112046
https://www.ibc24.in/business/india-built-92000-km-of-national-highways-in-last-95-years-jain-2394277.html
https://www.financialexpress.com/business/roadways-morth-acheives-significant-milestone-in-last-9-5-years-india-built-around-92000-km-national-highways-details-3409523/
https://orissadiary.com/india-has-built-around-92000-km-national-highways-in-last-nine-and-half-years/
https://westerntimesnews.in/news/305318/india-has-built-around-92000-km-national-highways-in-last-nine-and-half-years/
https://www.zeebiz.com/india/news-india-built-around-92000-km-national-highways-in-last-95-years-morth-secretary-278483
https://www.navbug.uk/article508811415/morth_achieves_significant_milestone_in_last_9_5_years_india_built_around_92_000_km_national_highways_details.htm
https://indiashippingnews.com/around-92000-km-national-highways-have-been-built-in-last-9-5-years-morth/
https://thefederal.com/category/business/india-built-92000-km-of-national-highways-in-last-95-years-jain-112046
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/national-highway-construction-set-to-touch-95000-km-in-10-years-of-modi-government/articleshow/108117513.cms
https://en.sangritimes.com/india-has-constructed-a-network-of-92000-km-of-national-highways-in-the-last-95-years-this-new-record-will-be-made-soon
https://www.mypunepulse.com/india-over-95000-kms-of-national-highways-built-in-last-one-decade-major-boost-to-infra-development/
https://pune.news/nation/india-achieves-milestone-over-95000-kilometers-of-national-highways-built-in-the-last-decade-147128/

Webinar Series : 2.0 :1st Webinar on the subject “Availability of Quality Construction Equipment for Quality Roads & Bridges”
2024-04-11 18:00 - 19:30 | New Delhi, India
IRF India Chapter organized the 1st Webinar of the Webinar Series 2.0, titled “Availability of Quality Construction Equipment for Quality Roads & Bridges” on 11th April 2024 from 17:00 – 18:30 Hrs.
At the outset, Prof. P.K. Sikdar, Advisor, IRF-IC welcomed the participants and gave a brief review of the Webinar series.
He welcomed the distinguished Speakers, Panelists and attendees. The following Speakers and Panelists joined the Webinar and shared their thoughts and observations which are available on IRF-IC’s website www.indiairf.com
1. Mr. Satin Sachdeva, Founder & Secretary General, CERA (Topic: Indian Construction Equipment Rental)
2. Mr. Subrata Das (Topic: Equipment Selection: Criteria and Decision-Making – A Contractor’s Perspective)

Lecture Series : 2.0 :1st Lecture on " Modern Methods of Crash Data Collection and Management"
2024-04-25 18:00 - 19:30 | New Delhi, India
IRF India Chapter organized the 1st Lecture in the series, titled “Methods of Crash Data Collection and Management” on 25th April 2024 from 18:00 – 19:30 Hrs.
At the outset, Mr. K.K. Kapila, Founder President, IRF-IC welcomed the participants and gave a brief overview of the Lecture series. He welcomed the distinguished Guest Speakers, Special Guests and attendees. The following Speakers and Special Guests joined the Lecture and shared their thoughts and observations.
1. Guest Speaker – Prof. P.K. Sikdar, Adviser, IRF-IC
2. Guest Speaker – Mr. Joydeep Shome, DDG & HoG, National Informatics Centre
3. Special Guest – Dr. B.D. Paulson, ADG (Traffic), Road Safety, Govt. of U.P.
4. Special Guest – Maj. Gen. Ashok Kumar, Vice President, IRF-IC, and DirectorGeneral Works, Indian Armed Forces
5. Special Guest – Dr. Arun Mohan, Senior Advocate, Supreme Court of India
6. Mr. Akhilesh Srivastava, Executive Vice President, IRF India Chapter
The Guest Speakers at the Lecture were Prof. P.K. Sikdar and Mr. Joydeep Shome.
Prof. Sikdar shared his presentation and highlighted the causes of accident/crashes, poor infrastructure management, lack of reliable crash/accident data among others.
Mr. Joydeep Shome shared his presentation and spoke about iRAD/eDAR application to collect, store, manage, analyse, interpret and visualize the road accident information.
Mr. Akhilesh Srivastava presented Vote of Thanks.

Photogallery

DSC_8281

DSC_8311

DSC_8332

DSC_8356

DSC_8366

DSC_8386

DSC_8333

Audio Recording

Audio Recording

https://indiairf.com/files/PVT,25-04-2024,SEMINAR%20HALL1,2&3,6PM,I.R.F;MODERN%20METHOD%20OF%20CRASH%20DATA%20COLLECTION%20AND%20MANAGEMENT.mp3

Webinar Series : 2.0 :2nd Webinar on the subject “Smart & Intelligent Equipment for Modern and Top-Quality Infrastructure Developments”
2024-05-16 18:00 - 19:30 | New Delhi, India
IRF India Chapter organized the 2nd Webinar of the Webinar Series 2.0, titled “Smart & Intelligent Equipment for Modern and Top-Quality Infrastructure Developments” on 16th May 2024 from 17:00 – 18:30 Hrs.
At the outset, Mr. Akhilesh Srivastava, Executive Vice President, IRF-IC welcomed the participants and gave a brief review of the Webinar series.
He welcomed the distinguished Speakers, Panelists and attendees. The following Speakers and Panelists joined the Webinar and shared their thoughts and observations which are available on IRF-IC’s website www.indiairf.com
1. Mr. Amit Kumar Sinha, IPS, ADG, Uttarakhand Police
2. Mr. Amit Saxena, Regional Sales Manager, Trimble view presentation here
3. Mr. Abhijit Padhye, Business Head, Gainwell Commosales Pvt. Ltd.

Lecture Series : 2.0 :2nd Lecture on the subject “Accident Investigation & Crash Data Analysis – To Answer Who Is Responsible”
2024-05-31 18:00 - 19:30 | New Delhi, India
The International Road Federation – India Chapter (IRF-IC) recently hosted its 2nd lecture as part of the ongoing Lecture Series 2.0. The focus was on “Accident Investigation & Crash Data Analysis – To Answer Who is Responsible.” The event featured guest speakers Mr. Tony Mathew, Principal Transport Specialist at TRL India, and Mr. Jigar Soni, Senior Automotive Injury Analyst at JP Research India Pvt Ltd. Both organizations are deeply involved in Accident Data Research.
Here are the key highlights from their presentations:

Mr. Tony Mathew discussed Data Systems for Road Asset Management using a digital platform for storage, planning, tactical execution, and operations management. He shared insights from a case study in Himachal Pradesh, emphasizing the importance of strategic planning and supportive policies to enhance road safety through practical implementation.
Mr. Jigar Soni delved into the complexities of Road Traffic Crashes and the significance of capturing accurate data through scientific crash investigations. He highlighted the data-driven environment and the use of the Haddon’s Matrix for injury interventions and prevention strategies.

For detailed presentations, visit IRF-IC’s website at https://indiairf.com.
In addition to the lectures, IRF-IC introduced its School Zone Safety Program, launched by Hon. Minister Nitin Gadkari ji on January 24, 2024. Based on IRC’s SP 32 for School Zone Safety, the program aims to survey schools across India, identify infrastructure gaps, and assess traffic-related parameters within the 300 to 500 m school zone. An online Capacity Building Program for School Zone Auditors, covering 15 lakh schools nationwide, is also underway. Certificates were awarded to professionals and students who completed the online course.
Explore IRF-IC’s School Zone Safety program at lms.indiairf.com. For queries, contact 9205994744.
Stay tuned for more updates on the Lecture series as we continue to advance road safety and policy initiatives!

Photogallery

DSC_5090-min

DSC_5096-min

DSC_5114-min

DSC_5127-min

DSC_5131-min

DSC_5138-min

DSC_5151-min

DSC_5152-min

DSC_5164-min (1)

Audio Recording

Audio Recording

https://indiairf.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/240531_1756.mp3

Webinar Series : 2.0 :3 rd Webinar on the subject “Sustainable Development of Infrastructure Using Low Carbon Cement Concrete Construction”
2024-06-19 18:00 - 19:30 | New Delhi, India
IRF India Chapter organized the 3 rd Webinar of the Webinar Series 2.0,titled “Sustainable Development of Infrastructure Using Low Carbon Cement Concrete Construction” on 19 th June 2024 from 17:00 – 18:30 Hrs.
At the outset, Mr. K.K. Kapila, Founder President, IRF-IC welcomed the participants and gave a brief review of the Webinar series.
He invited Prof. P.K. Sikdar to welcome the distinguished Speakers, Panelists and attendees.
The following Speakers and Panelists joined the Webinar and shared their thoughts and observations which are available on IRF-IC’s website www.indiairf.com
1. Mr. V.N. Heggade, Founder & CEO, DECon Complete Solutions
2. Dr. V. Ramachandra, Principal Advisor – Tech Services, Ultratech Cement Ltd. (Topic: Moving Towards Net Zero in Concrete Constructions – Opportunities &Challenges)

Lecture Series : 2.0 :3rd Lecture on the subject “What is Wrong in the Legal System of Road Safety (Accident) Adjudication – There is no Means to Prove Innocence”
2024-07-12 18:00 - 19:30 | New Delhi, India
The International Road Federation – India Chapter (IRF-IC) recently hosted its 3rd lecture as part of the ongoing Lecture Series 2.0. The focus was on “What is Wrong in the Legal System of Road Safety (Accident) Adjudication – There is no Means to Prove Innocence.” The event featured guest speakers Justice J.R. Midha, Former Judge, Delhi High Court, and Dr. Arun Mohan, Senior Advocate, Supreme Court of India.
The Motor Vehicle (Amendment) Act of 2019 has brought in many changes, especially some drastic provisions for increased fines for the violations, which was making sensations during first 3-4 months after the Act was implemented. That was meant for deterring the violations and to avoid and minimize the road accidents. But there has been no effect of these enhanced fines for different violations in terms of improved discipline or the road user behaviours. Basically, most of the accidents are happening due to the rogue behaviours of a class of road users. Most disciplined road users also get involved in an accident due to others’ irresponsible behaviours on roads. There is no way in this country to prove innocence. Also, Police attending the accident scene has absolutely no idea about how and why an accident takes place, except his/her general knowledge. Basically the unwritten rule is that both are at fault, because the Insurance Rule dictates that insurance of each vehicle will pay for the repairs of the damages. Since there is no way that the responsibility can be fixed, this is the simple way the damages are claimed from respective insurances. But this is not so in most developed countries – and how they fix responsibility of the accident, and all claims/damages are paid by responsible party only.
A very large part of the problem is caused by the very poor, slack, immoral, and partisan enforcement without any use of technology or techniques. Further, there is practically no enforcement on all lower modes using the roads, e.g. pedestrian, bicycle, e-Rickshaw, Motorcycle, and so on. There appears to be no road rules for motorcycles, bicycles, pedestrians and e-Rickshaws, etc. There is a soft corner from enforcement agency for all of them, and there is no enforcement for their irresponsible behaviours. At present the proportion of fatality to 2-wheeler riders is 45% in 2022 out of total fatalities in India as 168,491. If road rules are practiced as in developed world making irresponsible road users responsible for accidents, then India will have 80% fatalities to 2-wheeler riders and other lower modes. Actually other vehicles continuously save them in the traffic stream inconveniencing themselves and often by jeopardising their own safety.
A car or truck driver, even when he is travelling at permitted urban speed of 50 km/h, if a pedestrian or cyclist unexpectedly comes in front he/she will be run over and will probably be killed. There is no mechanism in the motor vehicles to stop instantaneously. If there is no CCTV footage, only victim and the motor vehicle driver being in scene of incident, who will decide the responsibility of this accident. As per Indian Police’s unwritten rule, the bigger mode is always responsible for the accident; and there is no means to prove or establish innocence.
The IRF-IC Webinar focussed on this critical issue of accident adjudication in India. While the laws of the country should punish the culprits, it must have provisions for safeguarding the innocents. It is necessary to use advanced technologies and educate/train enforcement agencies for handling the accident cases with correct facts of incident. The Good Samaritan Law is a clear example in the country, as no one touched an accident victim till this law was enacted. The entire system of recording, reporting and adjudication of accidents should be a fair, truthful and impartial system for supporting innocents.

Programme- 3rd Lecture -12th July 2024

Photogallery

DSC_2942-min

DSC_3015-min

DSC_2918-min

DSC_2919-min

DSC_2963-min

DSC_2979-min

DSC_2986-min

DSC_3000-min

DSC_3024-min (1)

DSC_3026-min

Audio Recording

Audio Recording

https://indiairf.com//wp-content/uploads/2024/07/3lecture_rec.MP3

Lecture Series : 2.0 :4th Lecture on the subject “ITS Policy in India and Specifications for ATMS for Sustainable Enforcement in the Primary Network”
2024-07-26 18:00 - 19:30 | New Delhi, India
The International Road Federation – India Chapter (IRF-IC) recently hosted its 4th lecture as part of the ongoing Lecture Series 2.0. The focus was on “ITS Policy in India and Specifications for ATMS for Sustainable Enforcement in the Primary Network.” The lecture was moderated by Mr. Akhilesh Srivastava, Executive Vice President, IRF-IC and the Guest Speakers include Mr. Harsh Nisar, Advisor (IT), NHAI and Mr. Rakesh Bhat, General Manager, Trafitek Solutions Pvt. Ltd.
Mr. Akhilesh Srivastava who has been instrumental in ATMS specification during his stint in NHAI, welcome the Guest Speaker and set the tone for the lecture.
Mr. Harsh Nisar, Advisor IT at NHAI, delivered an insightful lecture on the importance of Advanced Traffic Management Systems (ATMS) in India. He emphasized the critical role ATMS plays in reducing incident response times and preventing incidents. The system integrates physical enforcement through route patrol vehicles and digital enforcement via e-challans, with the service of 1033 being a notable example.
In India, Variable Message Signs (VMS) are intended to provide dynamic information but often function like ordinary signboards. Mr. Nisar highlighted that modern cameras are not just for recording videos; they are equipped with features like detecting violations. ATMS software includes provisions for scanning videos at any point, generating incident lists for auditing, and ensuring incident management focuses on prevention.He stressed the need for a holistic approach to traffic management and mentioned that video recordings should be saved for 180 days. Given the high costs, it is essential to prioritize locations and then empower these areas with the necessary technology.
Mr. Rakesh Bhat, General Manager – Business Development at Trafitek Solutions Pvt. Ltd., delivered an informative lecture on the current challenges and recommendations for Advanced Traffic Management Systems (ATMS) in India. He emphasized that the absence of standardized regulations leads to the purchase of substandard and low-quality products, compromising commuter safety. This lack of uniformity also hinders the seamless integration of various ITMS systems.
The shortage of quality laboratories, evaluation authorities, and certification bodies results in the use of falsely compliant and uncertified products. Mr. Bhat proposed creating Indian Standards (IS) aligned with European standards, along with third-party audits to ensure fair implementation.Public awareness campaigns are crucial to educate citizens about the benefits of ITS and encourage their active participation. Providing platforms for public feedback and suggestions is also essential. A robust regulatory framework should outline the roles and responsibilities of various stakeholders, compliance requirements, and enforcement mechanisms for ITS implementation.
Collaboration between government entities and private companies is encouraged to leverage expertise, technology, and investment for developing and deploying ITS solutions. Integrating ATMS with urban development plans ensures that infrastructure supports sustainable growth and mobility.
Mr. Bhat noted that various challenges, such as regulatory and policy issues, operational challenges, and funding constraints, can impact the adoption and effectiveness of ATMS.

Photogallery

DSC_5763-min

DSC_5747-min

DSC_5744-min

DSC_5732-min

DSC_5722-min

DSC_5708-min

DSC_5697-min

DSC_5684-min

Audio Recording

Audio Recording

https://indiairf.com//wp-content/uploads/2024/07/4lecture20.MP3

Webinar Series : 2.0 :5 th Webinar on the subject “Sustainable Alternative Industrial Waste Materials for Infrastructure Development – Which all industrial wastes have the merit and availability to change the ecosystem of infrastructure developments”
2024-08-09 18:00 - 19:30 | New Delhi, India
IRF India Chapter organized the 5 th Webinar of the Webinar Series 2.0,titled “Sustainable Alternative Industrial Waste Materials for Infrastructure Development – Which all industrial wastes have the merit and availability to change the ecosystem of infrastructure developments” on 9 th August 2024 from 17:00 – 18:30 Hrs.
At the outset, Mr. K.K. Kapila, Founder President, IRF-IC introduced and invited the moderator of the webinar Prof. Manoranjan Parida.
Prof. Manoranjan Parida, Director, CRRI, welcomed the distinguished Speakers,Panelists and attendees. The following Speakers and Panelists joined the Webinar and shared their thoughts and observations which are available on IRF-IC’s website www.indiairf.com
1. Dr. Bhupendra Singh, Assistant Professor, IIT Jodhpur.Click here for presentation
2. Dr. D. Satish Kumar, General Manager – Research & Development, JSW Steel.Click here for presentation
3. Mr. U.K. Guruvittal, Former Chief Scientist, Geotechnical Engineering Division – CSIR Central Road Research InstituteClick here for presentation

Lecture Series : 2.0 :5th Lecture on the subject “Adoption of Technologies for Better Traffic Management and Road Safety – How and What?”
2024-08-30 18:00 - 19:30 | New Delhi, India
The International Road Federation – India Chapter (IRF-IC) recently hosted its 5th lecture as part of the ongoing Lecture Series 2.0. The focus was on “Adoption of Technologies for Better Traffic Management and Road Safety – How and What?”. The Chief Guest at the evening was Mr. Ajay Chaudhry, IPS, Special Commissioner (Traffic), Delhi Police – Traffic and the guest speakers were Dr. S. Velmurugan, Chief Scientist, CRRI, and Mr. Ravikumar D., D&E Head Smart City, Bharat Electronics Ltd.
Special CP, Traffic, highlighted that Lok Adalats are becoming major hindrance for disciplining traffic violators as huge fines get reduced or totally waived off and the violators get away with small fines, which not only results in loss of revenue but also becomes major cause for further traffic violations.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Kapila emphasized that promoting a safe transportation system requires a holistic approach including Engineering of roads, Engineering of vehicles, Enforcement, Education and Emergency care. These 5Es have been realized world over as pillars of success to promote road safety. The successful implementation of the 5E’s in road safety results in increased awareness, safer road infrastructure, better compliance with traffic laws, encouragement of responsible behavior, and continuous refinement of safety measures.
Dr. S. Velmurugan, Chief Scientist, CRRI gave a presentation on Integration of Technology and Road Engineering and dwelt on Artificial Intelligence powered ADAS to tackle aspects like road safety, Vehicle Safety Vector and Driver Safety Performance, Mobility Safety Vector, Infrastructure Safety Vector, Education, Awareness Campaign and Emergency Care, Project iRASTE. A detailed presentation is available as part of the Lecture material in this section.
Mr. Ravikumar D, D&E Head, Smart City, Bharat Electronics Ltd., gave his presentation on Sundargarh Smart City and shared the issues on highways, proposed solution for Sundargarh, technologies like Incident response and situation awareness, ANPR and Speed Detection Sensors, Road Ways Sensors, Traffic congestion detection, Over Speed Detection System, Inductive Loop Detection, etc. A detailed presentation is available as part of the lecture material in this section.

Programme

Photogallery

DSC_2527

DSC_2517

DSC_2495

DSC_2483

DSC_2478

DSC_2583

DSC_2576

DSC_2567

DSC_2553

DSC_2550

DSC_2544

DSC_2542

Audio Recording

Audio Recording

https://indiairf.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/240830_1806.mp3

Webinar Series : 2.0 :6th Webinar on the subject "New Age and Perpetual Pavement for Performance and Economy - Technology and design methods for eliminating any requirement of major maintenance of road pavements”
2024-09-19 18:00 - 19:30 | New Delhi, India
IRF India Chapter organized its 6th Webinar of the webinar series, titled “New Age and Perpetual Pavement for Performance and Economy – Technology and Design Methods for eliminating any requirement of major maintenance of Road Pavements” on 19th September 2024 from 17:00 – 18:30 Hrs. The Webinar was well attended by Road Safety Professionals, Research Scholars, Corporates, Highway Engineers, Road Planners, Academician, etc.
Prof. P.K. Sikdar, Advisor, IRF-IC introduced and invited the moderator of the webinar Prof. A. Veeraragavan, Former Professor, IIT Madras.
Prof. A. Veeraragavan welcomed the distinguished Speakers and attendees. The following Speakers make presentation at the Webinar which are available on IRF-IC’s website www.indiairf.com
1. Ms. Atasi Das, Assistant Vice President, G R Infraprojects Limited – Click here for presentation
2. Prof. Nikhil Saboo, Assistant Professor, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee – Click here for presentation

Lecture Series : 2.0 :6th Lecture on the subject “Evaluation of Safety Performance of Road Infrastructure by Surrogate Measures”
2024-09-27 18:00 - 19:30 | New Delhi, India
The International Road Federation – India Chapter (IRF-IC) recently hosted its 6th lecture as part of the ongoing Lecture Series 2.0. The focus was on “Evaluation of Safety Performance of Road Infrastructure by Surrogate Measures”. The Guest Speakers at the evening were Dr. P. Vedagiri, Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay, Dr. S.S. Puwar, Director-Technical, Gawar Construction Limited (GCL) and Prof. Indrajit Ghosh, Professor, Civil Engineering Department, IIT Roorkee.
Dr. P. Vedagiri, described the main objectives of Road Infrastructure, Haddon Matrix for Road Crash. He further highlighted the Risk factors for road traffic injury and road user diversity behavior. He explained the concept of Post Encroachment time representing the difference in time between the passages of the “offended” and “conflicted” road users over a common conflict zone (i.e. area of potential collision).
Dr. S.S. Puwar, explained surrogate safety measures and pyramids of traffic events. He also highlighted his study identifying the surrogate safety measures and their use to evaluate how they affect the crash and intensity of the crash. Microsimulation is applied to extract surrogate safety measures and also develop surrogate safety assessment models (SSAM).
Prof. Indrajit Ghosh, emphasized the analysis of Pedestrian Conflict with Right-Turning Vehicles at Signalized Intersections. He further described the Post Encroachment time, Time to vehicles, time to accidents, Deceleration to safety time, etc. He also pointed out the yielding Behavior of Pedestrians and Vehicles and explained the Modal Dominance Index.

Programme

Presentations by :
Dr. P. VedagiriDr. S.S. PuwarProf. Indrajit Ghosh

Photogallery

DSC_9908

DSC_9891

DSC_9885

DSC_9880

DSC_9879

DSC_9876 – Copy

DSC_9871 – Copy

DSC_9960

DSC_9956

DSC_9953

DSC_9934

DSC_9919

Audio Recording

Audio Recording

https://indiairf.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/240927_1736.mp3

IRF World Congress 2024
2024-10-15 - 2024-10-18 | Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey
About the IRF World Congress 2024
Istanbul – the city on two continents – will be hosting the IRF World Congress on 15-18 October 2024. Held every four years, the IRF World Congress has represented – for almost seven decades – an opportunity to celebrate the road and mobility sectors as enablers of growth and development.
Embracing the theme “Connecting to Empower Mobility: Roads as Enablers of a Sustainable Future for All”, the congress will serve as a platform for global leaders, industry experts, academia, and diverse public and private stakeholders to engage in insightful discussions and collaborative efforts, addressing pivotal issues and exploring innovations within the road and mobility sectors.
“The chosen theme reflects our dedication to envisioning a future where roads serve as pathways to empower mobility in all its forms – whether on foot, on a bicycle, on public transport or a motor vehicle, in urban or rural areas – thus connecting communities and fostering sustainable development on a global scale”, emphasises IRF President, Mr Anouar Benazzouz. “The IRF World Congress 2024 will be an inspiring journey on how to pave the way for a future where roads are part of a transportation system that unites, empowers, and provides access to opportunities to all”, he added.
The mysticism of the East and the modernity of the West, the constant time travel between the past and the future, the balance of the traditional and the modern.

Lecture Series : 2.0 :7th Lecture on the subject “Something must change for better Road Safety Management in India – It is going from Bad to Worse !”
2024-10-25 18:00 - 19:30 | New Delhi, India
The International Road Federation – India Chapter (IRF-IC) recently hosted its 7th lecture as part of the ongoing Lecture Series 2.0. The focus was on “Something must change for better Road Safety Management in India – It is going from Bad to Worse“. The Guest Speakers at the evening were Mr. Akhilesh Srivastava, Advisor, WEF & Road Safety Ambassador, IRF-IC, Mr. Naresh Raghvan, TopDriver Education LLP, Hyderabad, TS and Prof. P K Sikdar, Former Director CSIR-CRRI & Advisor IRF-IC
Mr. Akhilesh Srivastava, described the Risk factors for diverse road user behavior and 5Es concept of Road Safety. He also moderated the lecture and invited the guest speakers to deliver the talk.
Mr. Naresh Raghvan, explained how to Improve Road Safety via Compulsory Driver Education (CDE). He has created and published india’s first driving manuals on driver education, approved by RTA. He has also created audio-visual driver education courses in english and hindi which are available to general public on udemy.com. He highlighted 50 basic Road Rules which need enforcement & education.
Prof. P K Sikdar, emphasized on Safe System Approach for Road Safety. He further described the concept of 5 Es of Road Safety including – Engineering of roads, Engineering of vehicles, Education & Campaign, Enforcement (24×7 enforcement) & Emergency care. He pointed out the reasons as to why Road Safety was not improving in India.

Presentations by :
Prof. P.K.Sikdar
Mr. Naresh Raghvan

Photogallery

Recording

Audio Recording

https://indiairf.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/7IRF-IClecture.mp3

Webinar Series : 2.0 :7th Webinar on the subject " Stabilisation in Road Construction – Performance & Economy_Oldest method of pavement quality enhancement still not used routinely; how can this be changed for all future works”
2024-11-06 17:00 - 18:30 | New Delhi, India
IRF India Chapter organized its 7th Webinar of the webinar series, titled “ Stabilisation in Road Construction – Performance & Economy_Oldest method of pavement quality enhancement still not used routinely; how can this be changed for all future works” on 06th November 2024 from 17:00 – 18:30 Hrs. The Webinar was well attended by Road Safety Professionals, Research Scholars, Corporates, Highway Engineers, Road Planners, Academician, etc.
Mr. Akhilesh Srivastava, Executive Vice President, IRF-IC introduced and invited the moderator of the webinar Prof. A. Veeraragavan, Former Professor, IIT Madras.
Prof. A. Veeraragavan welcomed the distinguished Speakers and attendees. The following Speakers made presentation at the Webinar –

Dr. Shubham Kalore, Technical Manager – Roads, Zydex Industries Private Limited – Click here for presentation
Dr. Dharamveer Singh, Professor, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay – Click here for presentation

Lecture Series : 2.0 :8th Lecture on the subject “Assessment and Management of Road Safety in the School Zone – Who Is Responsible?”
2025-01-27 18:00 - 19:30 | New Delhi, India
As part of the Road Safety Month, IRF-IC hosted its 8 th lecture on “Assessment and Management of Road Safety in the School Zone – Who Is Responsible?”. The Guest of Honour at the evening was Shri D. Sarangi, DG (RD) & SS, Ministry of Road Transport & Highways. Shri. K.K. Kapila, President (Emeritus), IRF, Founder President, IRF-IC, Shri. Akhilesh Srivastava, Executive Vice President, IRF-IC & Shri Swatantra Kumar, General Manager,Regulatory Affairs, 3M India Ltd were the Guest Speakers.Prof. Manoranjan Parida, Director, CSIR-Central Road Research Institute, was the special guest at the event.
Shri D. Sarangi, highlighted that in the year 2023 around 1.72 lakh road fatalities, with 60% of the victims being vulnerable road users and 35% under the age of 35 were reported in India. He mentioned about “e-Dar” which stands for electronic version of Detailed Accident Report, which collects quicker data and analysis to enhance road safety efforts. This e-DAR is completely working across the country. The 2024 e-DAR report reveals that 4.6% of road accidents in india occurred in school zones, including colleges. He stated that MoRTH plans to introduce road safety education into the school curriculum in upcoming academic session. He also mentioned that Ministry is also working to address major black spots on National Highways.
Shri. K.K. Kapila, addressed the concept of 5Es of road safety namely, Engineering of Roads, Engineering of Vehicles & Policy Intervention, Education & Mass Awareness, Enforcement and Emergency Care. He also highlighted 3 targets to be introduced during the coming months for Road Safety, which includes Helmets, Airbags for two wheelers and Motorcycle Ambulance.
Shri. Akhilesh Srivastava, emphasized about the IRF – IC School Zone Safety Programme. He briefly explained, the school zone safety monitoring portal & capacity building online course details of which are available at our website www.indiairf.com.
Shri Swatantra Kumar, GM, 3M, explained 3M’s Traffic Safety Social Initiatives. He described 3M’s initiatives of creating safer school zone & the work 3M is undertaking in association with IRF-IC.

Presentations by :
Mr. Akhilesh Srivastava
Mr. Swatantra Kumar

Programme

Photogallery

Recording

Audio Recording

https://indiairf.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/27-01-2025,%20Seminar%20Hall-1&2,%206pm,%20International%20Road%20Federation.MP3

Webinar Series : 2.0 :IRF-IC’s 8th Webinar on the subject “Future of Infrastructure Development and Management Using Innovative Technologies_Hi-tech methods of managing design-construction-operation using AI, BIM, DT for optimizing on every front for best quality and economy”
2025-05-09 17:00 - 18:30 | New Delhi, India
IRF India Chapter organized its 8th Webinar of the webinar series, titled “Future of Infrastructure Development and Management Using Innovative Technologies_Hi-tech methods of managing design-construction-operation using AI, BIM, DT for optimizing on every front for best quality and economy” on 9th May 2025 from 17:00 – 18:30 Hrs. The Webinar was attended by Road Safety Professionals, Research Scholars, Corporates, Highway Engineers, Road Planners, Academician, etc.
Prof. P.K. Sikdar, Advisor, IRF-IC, introduced and invited the moderator of the webinar Prof. Manoranjan Parida, Director, CSIR-CRRI
Prof. Manoranjan Parida, welcomed the distinguished Speakers and attendees. The following Speakers made presentations at the Webinar which are available on IRF-IC’s website www.indiairf.com
– Mr. Venkata Subba Rao Chunduru, Director, Arcadis IBI Group highlighted the anatomy and importance of Digital Twin. He emphasized about how digital twin works and its uses in different Road safety cases like hazard detection & proactive interventions, work zone & construction risk management, incident managements and emergency response, intelligent traffic operations. – Click here for presentation
– Mr. Bharani Kumar Depuru, CEO – AiSPRY & 360DigiTMG, explained any AI Project should started with 9 steps, which include- business understanding, data collection, data understanding, research on data and similar problems solved, Data Pre – processing, Model Building, Evaluation, Deployment and Model Monitoring & Maintenance. He also talked about few key accomplished projects which aligned with AI.
Prof. Manoranjan Parida, concluded the session by adding, that CRRI was deeply engaged in the development of new materials where AI based application is also being used. Combination of AI based application and new materials gives very strong and effective solution to industry, looking for practical interventions.

Lecture Series : 2.0 :9th Lecture on the subject “Traffic Enforcement in India – Why is it not successful in achieving Correction in Behaviour of Road Users ?’’
2025-05-23 18:00 - 19:30 | New Delhi, India
As part of the Road Safety Month, IRF-IC hosted its 9th lecture on “Traffic Enforcement in India – Why is it not successful in achieving Correction in Behaviour of Road Users ?”.
Ms. Monika Bhardwaj, IPS, Additional Commissioner of Police, Traffic (Zone-I), Delhi and Mr. Gurpreet Singh Basra, Business Unit Head – Traffic & Transit, Amnex Infotechnologies Pvt. Ltd. were the Guest Speakers.
Mr. Akhilesh Srivastava, President, IRF – IC, delivered the welcome address and opening remarks. He also provided a brief overview of the objectives and initiatives of the International Road Federation – India Chapter’s Lecture Series.
Prof. P. K. Sikdar, Advisor, IRF – IC, provided a brief overview of the lecture topic and introduced guest speakers of the event.
Ms. Monika Bhardwaj, highlighted the behavior of road users, citing data on traffic challans. She mentioned that over the past five years, approximately 75 to 80 Lakhs challans have been issued annually. She mentioned that around 1,800 new vehicles are being registered daily in Delhi and it has already very high vehicle density. The lifespan of diesel vehicles is up to 10 years and for petrol vehicles, it is up to 15 years. However, the lifespan of approximately 55 to 60 Lakhs vehicles have already expired, yet many of them are possibly still operating on the roads in Delhi. Vehicles that have exceeded their permitted lifespan should no longer be on the roads, as they significantly contribute to the pollution problem in Delhi. To correct road user behavior, it is essential to address infrastructural gaps. Problems such as lack of proper road signage and markings need to be identified and resolved. There is a noticeable lack of awareness among road users regarding traffic norms and safety measures. Many people are unaware of road signages and markings, despite holding a valid driving license. She suggested 5 E’s to be implemented actively, which translates to Engineering, Education, Enforcement, Engagement, and Evaluation to correct Road user behavior. Click Here
Mr. Gurpreet Singh Basra, emphasized about the different problems in which he highlighted the Cultural Normalization attitude in Road Users. He also mentioned that Enforcement in India must evolve from being a manual, reactive mechanism to a strategically designed behavioural ecosystem. He also highlighted that Technology offers the means, but the success lies in aligning systems with human psychology – certainty of detection, fairness of action, and clarity of consequence. Click Here
For full lecture recording and presentation of Mr. Gurpreet Singh Basra, visit IRF-IC’s website at https://www.indiairf.com

9th Lecture on the subject “Traffic Enforcement in India – Why is it not successful in achieving Correction in Behaviour of Road Users ?’’
by IRF-IC
https://indiairf.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Audio-recording-9th-Lecture-23-May-2023.mp3

Webinar Series : 2.0 :IRF-IC’s 9th Webinar on the subject “Capacity Augmentation & Service Life Enhancement of Bridges” - Managing assets for maximizing service life and serviceability demands innovative and modern technologies
2025-06-13 16:00 - 17:30 | New Delhi, India
IRF India Chapter organized its 9th Webinar of the webinar series, titled “Capacity Augmentation & Service Life Enhancement of Bridges” – Managing assets for maximizing service life and serviceability demands innovative and modern technologies” on 13th June 2025 from 16:00 – 17:30 Hrs. The Webinar was attended by Road Safety Professionals, Research Scholars, Corporates, Highway Engineers, Road Planners, Academician, etc.
Prof. P.K. Sikdar, Advisor, IRF-IC, introduced and invited the moderator of the webinar Mr. S. K. Puri, Executive Director, ICT Pvt. Ltd.
Mr. S. K. Puri, welcomed the distinguished Speakers and attendees. The following Speakers made presentations at the Webinar which are available on IRF-IC’s website www.indiairf.com Click Here
– Dr. N. Anandavalli, Director, CSIR-Structural Engineering Research Centre, Chennai, stressed that India must shift to smarter solutions for infrastructure monitoring. She highlighted how modern technologies such as advanced instrumentation, AI, and data analysis can help identify internal damages that are often missed during manual inspections. She said that Bridges are the lifelines of our transport networks. Maintaining them in good condition is crucial for both safety and accessibility. She added that environmental factors, water exposure, air pollution, and increasing traffic loads lead to faster deterioration of infrastructure, making timely detection and repair imperative and most important. Using AI-based systems and embedded sensors — an approach known as Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) — can allow engineers to detect issues early, understand better the damage patterns, and plan maintenance more effectively. However, Dr. Anandavalli also pointed out a major challenge where, India was importing critical sensors at a very high cost. She opined that it is time we invested in developing our own sensor technology to reduce dependence on imports and make large-scale infrastructure monitoring more affordable. Click Here
– Dr. Gopal Rai, CEO, Dhirendra Group of Company (DGC), explained the importance of Bridge Rehabilitation. He highlighted that while SHM systems offer many benefits over traditional inspections, their high cost remains a key hurdle. These technologies are essential for ensuring the safety and extending the lifespan of our bridges and tunnels, but they must become more accessible and affordable for widespread use. He also talked about band stressing method and groove laminate with their applications. Click Here

Lecture Series : 2.0 :10th Lecture on the subject “Safety of Motorised Two-Wheelers in India – How to Tackle it through Road & Vehicle Design Options?”
2025-07-04 18:00 - 19:30 | New Delhi, India
As part of the Road Safety Month, IRF-IC hosted its 10th lecture on “Safety of Motorised Two-Wheelers in India – How to Tackle it through Road & Vehicle Design Options?”.
Dr. Rohit Baluja, President, Institute of Road Traffic Education was the Moderator at the event. Mr. Prashant K. Banerjee, Executive Director, Society of Indian Automobiles Manufacturers and Dr. Ravi Sekhar, Chief Scientist, CSIR – Central Road Research Institute were the Guest Speakers.
Mr. K. K. Kapila, President (Emeritus), IRF & Founder President, IRF-IC delivered the welcoming and opening remarks in the lecture. He mentioned that safe technological systems including ABS brakes for all two-wheelers cannot be ignored. He also stressed on the need for mandating airbags for two-wheelers and the helmets which do not allow a vehicle to start till worn.
Dr. Rohit Baluja, emphasized the necessity for designated driving lanes to boost the safety of two-wheeler drivers, who are among the most vulnerable road users alongside pedestrians. He also mentioned that India needs to create its own vehicular safety systems instead of copying others. Click Here
Mr. Prashant K. Banerjee, highlighted – India accounts for the highest road fatalities in the world. He also mentioned despite passenger vehicles adhering to best safety norms and having ultra-modern safety features installed, there is a lack of holistic enforcement procedures, a level-playing field and awareness amongst consumers regarding safer mobility. Click Here
Dr. Ravi Sekhar, explained importance of Anti-lock Braking System (ABC) and Combined Braking System (CBS). He also addressed Road & Vehicle Design Solutions through IRC:SP:150-2025 Recommended Practices for the Planning and Designing of Motorized Two-Wheeler Lanes. Click Here
For full lecture recording and presentation of Dr. Ravi Sekhar, visit IRF-IC’s website at https://www.indiairf.com

10th Lecture on the subject “Safety of Motorised Two-Wheelers in India – How to Tackle it through Road & Vehicle Design Options?”
by IRF-IC
https://indiairf.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/10th-Lecture-Audio-Recording-04-July-2025.mp3

Webinar Series : 2.0 :IRF-IC’s 10 th Webinar on the subject “Asset Management for Roads and Bridges” - Every asset needs to be managed for maintenance management using modern tools and techniques
2025-07-11 16:00 - 17:30 | New Delhi, India
IRF India Chapter organized its 10th Webinar of the webinar series, titled “Asset Management for Roads and Bridges” – Every asset needs to be managed for maintenance management using modern tools and techniques on 11 th July 2025 from 16:00 – 17:30 Hrs. The Webinar was attended by Road Safety Professionals, Research Scholars, Corporates, Highway Engineers, Road Planners, Academicians, etc.
Prof. P.K. Sikdar, Advisor, IRF-IC, introduced and invited the Moderator of the webinar
Prof. A. Veeraragavan (Retd.), IIT Chennai. Click Here
Prof. A. Veeraragavan (Retd.), welcomed the distinguished Speakers and attendees.
Mr. Satyakam Sahu, Regional Director, Lea Associates South Asia Pvt. Ltd., Click Here highlighted different objectives of Implementing RAMS. System design, System Development & Integration, System Implementation, Data Collection, Preparation of Asset Management plans and training & capacity building are different components of Road Asset Management System. He also added that IRC codes and guidelines are used in the RAMS. He also explained IT applications that are used in Road Asset Management. – Click here for complete presentation

Dr. Narayan Chandra Pal, Technical Expert Advisor – PWD & OBCC, Govt. of Odisha, Click Here talked about a misconception that a bridge once constructed does not require any substantial maintenance for the first couple of decades. Bridge management is not merely a routine, but an art, which ensures that bridges remain fit for their intended purpose over a long period at minimum life cycle cost. He gave various examples of bridge collapses in India along with the causes behind them and the follow up action plans that were implemented. – Click here for complete presentation

Prof. P.K. Sikdar, concluded the session by adding that without continuous and regularly collected data, effective asset management was not possible. Without a dedicated inspection fund, how can the asset management be effectively carried out. Bridges should be analyzed within the framework of bridge asset management.

Lecture Series : 2.0 :11 th Lecture on the subject “What is a Totally Ideal (Correct and standard) Emergency Response System with All its Components ?”
2025-07-18 18:00 - 19:30 | New Delhi, India
As part of the Road Safety Month, IRF-IC hosted its 11th lecture on “What is a Totally Ideal (Correct and standard) Emergency Response System with All its Components ?”.
Mr. K. K. Kapila, President (Emeritus), IRF and Founder President, IRF-IC was the Moderator at the event. Prof. (Dr.) Amit Gupta, Professor of Surgery, JPN Apex Trauma Centre, AIIMS, New Delhi and Dr. Dnyaneshwar Shelke, Chief Operating Officer – Emergency Medical Services, BVG India Ltd. were the Guest Speakers. Vote of thanks was given by Mr. Akhilesh Srivastava, President, IRF-IC.
Mr. K. K. Kapila, President (Emeritus), IRF & Founder President, IRF-IC delivered the welcoming address which set the tone to the Lecture and introduced speakers in the event. He mentioned about a trauma care curriculum prepared jointly by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, JPN-AIIMS Trauma Centre, World Health Organisation and IRF-IC. This was formally released by the Hon’ble Health Minister in 2019.
Dr. Amit Gupta, emphasized the ideal emergency response system with its structure and entire components. A system of care which ensures on site availability of life support, measures dispensed by informed / trained manpower, supported by centrally controlled patient retrieval and ambulance system, with backup from general and speciality hospital for definitive care, is basically the emergency response system. He explained care systems with all the challenges during trauma, including emergency care system framework proposed by WHO. Click Here

Dr. Dnyaneshwar Shelke, highlighted EMS process interventions for trauma care in BVG India Ltd. He mentioned about a good samaritan app – an initiative to encourage bystanders to provide immediate help to accident victims which increases the speed of initial response and reduces the time to stabilization. It’s key feature is to send emergency notifications to users in the vicinity of accidents, offer medical assistance instructions until help arrives and ensure that Good Samaritans are protected under the law. Click Here

For full lecture recording and presentation of both the speakers, visit IRF-IC’s website at https://www.indiairf.com

Lecture Series : 2.0 :11 th Lecture on the subject “What is a Totally Ideal (Correct and standard) Emergency Response System with All its Components ?”
by IRF-IC
https://indiairf.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/18-07-25-SMH-11th-Lecture-IRF.mp3

IRF-IC’s 11 th Webinar on the subject “Revolution in Infrastructure Development by 3D Concrete Printing - Penetration of this revolution is insignificant so far; how to overcome the limitations and make it for routine adoption”
2025-08-28 16:00 - 17:30 | New Delhi, India
IRF India Chapter organized its 11 th Webinar of the webinar series, titled “Revolution in Infrastructure Development by 3D Concrete Printing – Penetration of this revolution is insignificant so far; how to overcome the limitations and make it for routine adoption” on 28 th August 2025 from 16:00 – 17:30 Hrs. The Webinar wasattended by Road Safety Professionals, Research Scholars, Corporates, Highway Engineers, Road Planners, Academicians, etc.
Prof. P.K. Sikdar, Advisor, IRF-IC, introduced and invited the Moderator of the webinar
Prof. N. Raghavan, Former Professor of Practice, IIT Madras.Prof. N. Raghavan, welcomed the distinguished Speakers and attendees. Click Here
Dr. Shashank Shekhar, Co-founder and CEO, MiCoB Pvt. Ltd., Click Here highlighted concrete is the most prevalent construction material due to its low cost and durability. MiCoB works extensively with Indian Defence, built 3D printed bunker to provide better protection to front-line soldiers guarding the country’s border with China in the Ladakh sector. 3D- printed permanent defences have been constructed and were trial tested against T90 tank as well. He also added some limitation of 3D-concrete printing which includes: Higher cost, Limited pilot projects, long term durability & structural performance data and lack of standards and testing protocols. He also explained the way forward for these limitations – Click here for complete presentation.

Dr. Biranchi Panda, Assistant Professor, IIT Guwahat, showed different concrete printing machines with their applications. He emphasized that Yield stress, viscosity and time dependent property were important for concrete printing. Printing can be improvedwith nanoclay and due to its electrical attraction force, produced a denser microstructure, which corresponded to a higher static yield stress at rest. During flow, the viscosity decreased as the particles progressively separated and aligned in the direction of the flow due to electrical repulsion leading to improved printing. He explained that 3D-printing materials with higher binder content are prone to shrinkage,lowers the sustainability and increases the cost. Click Here

IRF-IC’s Webinar on the subject “Reducing Road Accidents through Intelligent Data Evaluation”
2025-09-26 16:00 - 17:30 | New Delhi, India
IRF India Chapter organized its Webinar, titled “Reducing Road Accidents through Intelligent Data Evaluation” on 26 th September 2025 from 16:00 – 17:30 Hrs. The Webinar was attended by Road Safety Professionals, Research Scholars, Corporates, Highway Engineers, Road Planners, Academicians, etc.
Mr. Akhilesh Srivastava, President, IRF-IC as a Moderator welcomed the distinguished Speakers and attendees. Click Here
Mr. Girikumar Kumaresh, Principal Advisor Road Safety, Director for Future Moblity at Bosch India, highlighted that India accounts for 11% of the global deaths from road accidents. Fatalities in India are unacceptably high at 172,000 fatalities. India needs holistic approach involving joining hands with all stakeholders. He also felt that besides global solutions, India needs country specific adaptations emerging out of global technology adapted to local use case and identification of local use cases. New Technologies like ADAS, Connectivity are huge enablers to reduce fatalities in India. There exists huge potential to develop solutions using Data from vehicles and infrastructure. Click Here
Mr. Venkata Subba Rao Chunduru, Director, Arcadis IBI Group, highlighted that most of the time our focus is on analyzing past incidents and designing solutions based on that analysis. While the past reveals important trends, it is not enough when it comes to prevention. What we truly need are predictable, repeatable, and preventable approaches—powered by the right kind of data that enables us to anticipate and stop road accidents before they happen. He also added – Owning a car is not the issue, it is the driver behavior that truly matters when it comes to improving road safety. He also explained his two case studies during the webinar. Click Here
Mr. Akhilesh Srivastava, concluded the session by adding – Analyzing accident patterns through data helps to identify high-risk zones and implement targeted safety measures. It also involves collecting, processing and analyzing various data sources to predict accident and enable timely interventions.
