The central government is planning a new initiative to enhance safety and ease of travel on the national highways. Whether it’s a sharp bend, fog-covered stretches, stray animals, or unexpected diversions—travelers will now get a heads-up beforehand. The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Reliance Jio to implement a telecom-based safety alert system on highways.
Utilizing Reliance Jio’s pervasive 4G and 5G networks, travelers will receive updates directly to their mobile phones about accident-prone areas, presence of stray animals, fog-affected regions, and other emergencies. This initiative aims to enhance safety by informing highway users in real time, enabling them to adjust their speed and driving habits accordingly.
A statement from the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways revealed that the system will be fully automated, delivering alerts via SMS, WhatsApp, and priority calls to users on or around national highways. This system will be integrated in stages with NHAI's digital platforms, such as the 'Rajmarg Yatra' mobile application and the emergency helpline number 1033.
Source: aajtak
A key feature of this technology is that it requires no additional hardware. It can be deployed rapidly and on a large scale using existing telecom towers.
NHAI Chairman Santosh Kumar Yadav emphasized that this initiative will provide travelers with accurate, timely information, allowing them to modify their driving speed and behavior in advance. He hopes this will establish a new standard for technology-based safety management. Reliance Jio’s President, Jyotindra Thaker, mentioned that this solution, leveraging the extensive reach of the Jio network, will provide robust safety alerts, making highway travel more secure.
Initially, this project will be launched as a pilot in certain regional offices of NHAI, with a focus on identifying high-risk areas and setting alert parameters. The system will adhere to all standard procedures and data saving requirements.
NHAI clarified it plans to collaborate with other telecom service providers too in the future. By integrating strong digital infrastructure with real-time communication tools, this initiative seeks to reduce road accidents and raise traveler awareness. The aim of the National Highway Authority is to make travel nationwide safer, smarter, and more efficient.
