CEO Rob McInerney was delighted to share iRAP and IndiaRAP success and the life-saving potential of safer road infrastructure investment with India’s Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Shri Nitin Gadkari in Sydney last week.

The discussions occurred at an Austrade-hosted Industry Roundtable with Australian road safety stakeholders and industrialists to discuss investments in the transport sector.

It was part of a three day city visit exploring India and Australia’s innovative road safety and transport partnerships.

Seventeen people die on India’s roads every hour and road crashes cost the country 3-5 per cent of national GDP each year.

Rob McInerney said, “Impact investment has the potential to unlock the Business Case for Safer Roads in India to dramatically reduce the high road fatality and injury burden and finance sustainable development for economic growth.

“iRAP is proud to be supporting the Australian and Indian Governments road safety and transport partnerships alongside the locally led IndiaRAP Road Assessment Programme.

“IndiaRAP is working with the government, national and international partners, development banks and funding agencies, mobility clubs, research organisations, industry and road safety NGOs to build capacity and eliminate high-risk roads in the country,” he said.

The Union Minister took particular interest in the results-based financing model being rolled out in Brazil to deliver 3-star or better roads across the country through public-private partnerships that will be well-suited to the Indian market.

Henri Blas from the Global Infrastructure Hub was also in attendance and was able to share the recent outcomes of the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting that takes on increased significance with India hosting the G20 Presidency in 2023.

Also during the visit, Shri Gadkari:

• Visited the Future Mobility Testing and Research Centre at University of New South Wales (UNSW), a world-class proving ground for new and emerging technologies such as connected and automated vehicles (CAVs), and zero emission vehicles;
• Visited the Research Centre for Integrated Transportation Innovation (rCITI) at UNSW which pursues high level, interdisciplinary transport research and development through investigation of sustainable approaches to transport infrastructure and operations, with industry and government;
• Visited Australia’s largest Motorway Control Centre;
• Heard progress on the UNSW and Indian Academy of Highway Engineers’ Centre for Advanced Transportation Technology and Systems, an AUD$5m Centre of Excellence enabling capacity building in India;
• Met with Infrastructure Australia, Macquarie Asset Management, Export Finance Australia and the Australia-India Infrastructure Forum for collaboration, investment opportunities and trade between the two countries, including in Indian infrastructure;
• Met with Australian Senators Ms Jenny McAlister, Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy and Assistant Minister for Trade and Manufacturing Mr Tim Ayres to discuss opportunities and bilateral investment ties in the field of net zero emission and the Indian Transport Sector; and
• Attended a Business Round Table and Diwali Dinner organised by the Australia India Business Council.

The Union Minister highlighted the seamless opportunities to expand infrastructure partnerships between India and Australia.

Learn more about IndiaRAP’s work, the human impact of road crashes in India, how safe the country’s roads are, the road attributes that matter and Business Case for Safer Roads HERE.

Watch a video summary of the visit: