NEW DELHI, Dec 2: The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Reliance Jio to introduce a telecom-based safety alert system across the National Highway network, the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways said in a statement on Tuesday.
Using Jio’s existing 4G and 5G network, travellers will receive warnings on their mobile phones as they approach identified risk locations such as accident-prone stretches, stray-cattle zones, fog-affected areas, and emergency diversions, it said.
The automated system will work for all Jio mobile users on or near the National Highways and will provide early warning to National Highway commuters before they enter a hazardous zone.
The solution will use existing telecom towers and can be deployed quickly, without additional roadside hardware. This strategic partnership shall leverage Jio’s digital infrastructure, serving over 500 million subscribers in the country.
Speaking on the development, NHAI Chairman Santosh Kumar Yadav said, “This initiative marks an important step forward in providing timely and reliable information to commuters, enabling them to make informed decisions and adopt safer driving practices well in advance. I am sure that this initiative will set a new benchmark in technology-enabled road safety management on the National Highway.”
Jyotindra Thacker, President, Reliance Jio, stated that the initiative uses the reach of Jio’s telecom network to deliver timely safety alerts at scale, contributing to safer and more informed National Highway travel.
The initiative aims to strengthen road safety by providing timely information to National Highway users, enabling them to adjust speed and driving behaviour well in advance.
Alerts will be sent through SMS, WhatsApp, and high-priority calls to National Highway users.
“The system will be integrated in a phased manner with NHAI’s digital platforms, including ‘Rajmargyatra’ mobile application and emergency helpline number 1033,” the Transport Ministry said in a statement.
NHAI will also take similar exercise with other telecom service providers, it said.
(UNI)
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