Maharashtra's Chief Minister, Devendra Fadnavis, has announced a series of initiatives aimed at enhancing road safety and modernising the state's transport infrastructure. In a meeting held at the Sahyadri guest house, Fadnavis urged officials from the transport department to leverage Artificial Intelligence (AI) to reduce the incidence of road accidents and improve overall safety standards within the sector.
The encouragement to adopt AI is underpinned by a newly signed agreement between the Maharashtra government and Google, aimed at integrating advanced technologies into transportation systems. Fadnavis emphasised that the use of AI should not only enhance security but also contribute towards making the transport sector more sustainable.
A significant policy directive from the Chief Minister includes the enforcement of measures to scrap all vehicles older than 15 years. This initiative targets both public and private vehicles, with the intention of reducing outdated and potentially hazardous vehicles from the roads. According to the official release from the Chief Minister’s Office, over 13,000 government vehicles are set to be scrapped as part of this strategy. Additionally, buses operated by the state transport corporation that exceed the 15-year mark will either be replaced or retrofitted with Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) kits to enhance their performance and reduce emissions.
The Chief Minister also provided insights into the upcoming electric vehicle (EV) policy for Maharashtra, which is projected to be released within the next three years. This is indicative of the state’s broader agenda to promote eco-friendly transportation options.
Furthermore, Fadnavis highlighted the need for introducing new urban transport solutions, such as bike taxi and maxi cab services, aimed at improving mobility within metropolitan areas. As part of the safety measures, he called for the development of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to enhance the safety of buses, particularly in accident-prone regions known for challenging terrain, such as ghat roads.
These measures reflect the Maharashtra government’s commitment to upgrading transportation infrastructure and safety protocols in a bid to adapt to future trends in both urban mobility and technology.
Source: Noah Wire Services