National News: Uttar Pradesh is taking a big step in road safety by using Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Big Data Analytics to understand why road accidents happen and how to stop them. With this, UP will become the first state in India to launch such a modern system.
Government Approves the Project
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has given permission to UP’s Transport Department to begin testing this new technology. The department has started work on the pilot project, which will help study accident causes in a more scientific and accurate way.
Why This Step Was Needed
Uttar Pradesh is among the states with the highest number of road accidents. Between January and June this year, over 25,000 road accidents took place, and more than 14,000 people died. These accidents happened due to different reasons, like bad roads, poor weather, or careless driving. But so far, there has been no proper analysis of these causes.
Accidents also keep happening in the same locations again and again. In just 20 districts—including Lucknow—42% of the state’s total accidents were recorded last year. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had raised concerns about this and pushed for action. That’s when the transport department decided to bring in AI.
How Will It Work?
The project will be carried out by ITI Limited (a government company) along with a global tech partner, MLojica. The state has approved a budget of 10 crore for this plan.
In the first 6 weeks, the team will use AI tools to collect data from accident sites. They will then create detailed reports and send them to the central government. This will help in identifying accident-prone areas, also called black spots.
The AI system will study all aspects of accidents—road design, weather, traffic, vehicle type, and driver behavior—and create a model that can predict future risks.
AI Will Help in More Ways
Later, the same AI technology will also be used in other areas of transport management like:
- Issuing driving licenses without physical visits (faceless system)
- Managing permits and enforcement
- Collecting fines through e-challans
- Improving traffic rules using data
- Running digital platforms like Vahan and Sarathi
Why AI Is Better
Right now, when an accident happens, police officers write reports based on what they observe at the site. But this method is not always accurate. According to road safety expert Pushpsen Satyarthi, this is why we often miss the real cause of accidents. Many countries are already using AI to prevent road crashes, and now UP is bringing this system to India.
Where Will It Be Launched?
In the beginning, this system will be used in 17 cities of UP where Intelligent Traffic Management Systems (ITMS) are already working. After that, more districts with high accident numbers will be added.
A Safer Future with AI
According to Transport Commissioner Brajesh Narayan Singh, AI will make traffic smarter. For example, if someone is not wearing a helmet, the signal can be stopped from turning green. With accurate data, the state can finally work on real solutions to reduce accidents and save lives.
