TNI Bureau: Ahead of National Road Safety Month 2026, the Commerce & Transport Department, Government of Odisha, conducted a three-day specialised training programme on “Design Thinking for Safer Roads” for road engineers.

Organised with technical support from RBG Labs, IIT Madras, the programme was attended by nearly 50 engineers from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the Public Works Department (PW&D). The training focused on integrating design thinking, global best practices, and data-driven approaches into road infrastructure planning and safety.

The sessions included classroom learning, field visits, road safety audits, and live demonstrations of the Integrated Road Safety Dashboard developed by IIT Madras. Engineers analysed accident trends, identified safety gaps, and proposed practical, low-cost interventions.

Senior officials and experts also discussed road signage, traffic calming measures, enforcement strategies, and key provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act. The programme concluded with participant presentations and a review of learning outcomes.

Officials said the initiative marks a significant step toward improving road safety in Odisha and strengthening coordinated, data-driven road planning across agencies.