NHAI–Jio Partner for Highway Safety Alerts

In a move towards technology-driven road safety, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) announced, via press release dated December 2, 2025, that it has signed an MoU with Reliance Jio to deploy a mobile-based safety alert system across the national highway network.

The system will provide advance safety warnings to commuters approaching accident-prone stretches, stray-cattle zones, fog-affected areas, and emergency diversions, addressing a long-standing gap in real-time, personalised highway alerts.

Alerts will be delivered through SMS, WhatsApp, and high-priority calls, enabling drivers to adjust speed and driving behavior well in advance, including in low-visibility or high-risk conditions.

The initiative will be rolled out in phases and digitally integrated with NHAI’s existing platforms, including the Rajmargyatra mobile application and the 1033 emergency helpline, creating a unified ecosystem for alerts, incident reporting, and emergency response.

The system will operate entirely on Jio’s existing 4G/5G telecom infrastructure, allowing rapid deployment without additional roadside hardware and reducing implementation and operational costs.

Initial pilot deployments will be undertaken in select NHAI regions to validate risk-zone identification and alert thresholds, with scope to extend similar arrangements to other telecom service providers for nationwide coverage.

The MoU aligns with NHAI’s broader digital strategy, which already includes FASTag-based tolling, traffic-management pilots, and emergency response systems, and reinforces a shift towards scalable, technology-led safety solutions.

The initiative is expected to improve commuter awareness and reduce preventable accidents by enabling early behavioral adjustments, particularly in high-risk conditions.