Shri B N Puri, Director of AITD and Greg Smith, CEO of iRAP sign the MOU

We are thrilled to announce the successful renewal of our Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Aziatisch Instituut voor Transportontwikkeling (AITD). This milestone cements our collaboration, ensuring the vital work of the IndiaRAP programme continues to expand and deliver safer road infrastructure across India and the wider region during this critical decade.

Since its inception in 2017, the partnership between iRAP and AITD has established a robust track record, leveraging the iRAP methodology – including Star Ratings, investment planning, and capacity building – to identify and promote large-scale, cost-effective road safety programmes. The renewal of this MoU signals our shared commitment to the Second Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021–2030, with its ambitious global target to halve road traffic deaths and injuries by 2030.

A Renewed Focus: Targets and Expansion

This next phase of collaboration significantly elevates IndiaRAP’s potential impact, aligning it firmly with Global Road Safety Performance Targets 3 and 4 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The targets include ensuring all new roads are built to a 3-star or better standard for all road users (Target 3), and more than 75% of travel is on the equivalent of 3-star or better roads for all road users by 2030 (Target 4).

The renewed MoU establishes several key strategic priorities:

• Elevating AITD’s Role: We will actively work to integrate IndiaRAP activities within AITD’s broader mandate, enhancing its position as a leading national resource centre for road safety knowledge and practice in India. This will solidify a strong institutional base for infrastructure safety.
• Driving the 3-Star Target: We are committed to promoting infrastructure improvement by targeting the highest volume 10 percent of existing roads, setting appropriate road infrastructure star rating targets for all relevant road users, and adopting minimum 3-star standards and road safety audits for all new road constructions.
• Building a National Mission: A core objective is to foster powerful partnerships with national and state governments, development banks, and the transport industry to ensure road safety is embraced as a national mission.
• Regional Outreach: Leveraging AITD’s extensive regional networks, we will promote the extension of the RAP programme to the region, establishing cooperative centres at the country level.

Empowering Local Expertise and Capability

AITD will continue to host the IndiaRAP office, ensuring dedicated coordination and leadership within India. This collaboration will ensure:

• Localised Research: We will coordinate local research expertise to develop IndiaRAP models that accurately reflect the specific conditions and needs of India’s roads, ensuring our life-saving protocols are optimally effective.
• Training and Capacity Building: We will support the development of certified training programmes on the iRAP methodology, fostering a network of highly skilled professionals and accredited practitioners capable of delivering quality iRAP-specification activities across India and the region.

The renewal of this MoU reinforces the power of collaboration in tackling the global road safety crisis. By combining iRAP’s global data, technology, and expertise with AITD’s regional knowledge and institutional reach, we are set to save lives and reduce serious injuries in the decade ahead.

We look forward to sharing the progress of the IndiaRAP programme as we work together to deliver an India free of high-risk roads.

Volgens iRAP's Veiligheidsinzichtenverkenner, achieving UN Target 4 stands to save 73,317 lives each year in India, and an estimated 42,663,106 fatalities and injuries over the 20 year life of road treatments, with an economic benefit to the country of US$44.4 billion – a benefit of $4.50 for every $1 spent.