Bhubaneswar: Marking the lead-up to National Road Safety Month 2026, the Commerce & Transport Department of Odisha government organised a three-day specialised training programme on Design Thinking for Safer Roads for engineers from Road Owning Agencies.
The programme was conducted with technical support from RBG Labs, IIT Madras, and saw participation from nearly 50 engineers from NHAI and PW&D.
The training aimed to strengthen engineering capacity by integrating design thinking principles, global road safety practices, and data-driven approaches into national and state road infrastructure, using a hands-on and field-oriented methodology.
On Day one, Prof. Venkatesh Balasubramanian, Head, RBG Labs, IIT Madras, led sessions on accident trends, key road safety challenges, and the role of design thinking in safer road design. Engineers undertook field visits to identify critical safety gaps and develop context-specific engineering solutions.
Day Two featured a live demonstration of the Integrated Road Safety Dashboard, developed by IIT Madras, showcasing the use of location intelligence for prioritising and planning safety interventions. Detailed discussions were held on road safety audits, audit trigger points, and design-related safety considerations. Participants also carried out virtual and on-site safety audits using satellite imagery and field data. Rabindra Jena, MVI, RTO-2, Bhubaneswar, interacted with participants on road signage, traffic calming measures, and the resolution of pending iRAD cases.
On the final day, engineers presented field-based analyses and preliminary safety intervention proposals. Sessions on low-cost road safety measures, their planning and impact assessment, and road safety enforcement strategies were also conducted. The discussions covered traffic violations, key provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act and CMVR, and emphasised the role of education, emergency response, and driver behaviour in reducing road crashes.
The programme concluded with an evaluation of learning outcomes, with participants providing positive feedback and practical insights.
The initiative represents a significant step towards improving road safety in Odisha, reinforcing the State’s commitment to safer road design, data driven planning and coordinated action across agencies, and thus move towards Viskhit Odisha 2036.
