Minister Ajay Tamta urges an innovation challenge for smart, safe corridors; road safety is key to the Viksit Bharat vision.
In a compelling call to action, Union Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways, Ajay Tamta, has urged the nation to embrace innovation as the backbone of India’s future infrastructure. Speaking at a landmark interaction with faculty from IIT Delhi, the School of Planning and Architecture (SPA), and industry experts, the minister laid out a bold vision for building corridors that are not only smart and safe but also serve as engines of economic and social transformation.
“India’s roads must evolve beyond just concrete paths; they must become lifelines of industrial growth, urban expansion, and citizen well-being,” Tamta said, aligning his vision with the larger goal of Viksit Bharat 2047.
Highlighting the need to shift from reactive construction to forward-thinking design, he emphasised that road projects should be seen as integrated, multi-sectoral development platforms. The event showcased a range of forward-looking ideas, from hotspot-based safety frameworks to multi-directional traffic models and affordable transit systems using PiFi (Private Internet Fidelity), which requires no app or URL.
Tamta stressed the importance of homegrown solutions that respect India’s unique geography and urban realities, pushing back against Western replication. “We need infrastructure that works for India, not just imported models,” he said, advocating for indigenous planning approaches including safety zones, mobility hubs, and mixed-use corridors.
He also called for an open innovation challenge and a transparent governance model where physical plans are welcomed even before Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) are prepared, paving the way for smoother implementation.
Applauding the efforts of IIT Delhi and SPA Delhi, Tamta encouraged other academic and industry leaders to join hands in making infrastructure development a mission-driven, innovation-led movement. He reiterated that the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is committed to making road safety and intelligent planning national priorities.
With corridors designed not just to connect but to empower, Tamta’s message is clear: India’s infrastructure future is a shared responsibility, and innovation is the way forward.
Source: PIB
