In a significant step towards strengthening digital security and data protection across national highway systems, Indian Highways Management Company Limited signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the National Forensic Sciences University to foster collaboration in cyber security, digital forensics, research and capacity building.
Indian Highways Management Company Limited is a company promoted by the National Highways Authority of India. The National Forensic Sciences University is a Government of India institution of national importance headquartered in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. The MoU was signed by A R Chitranshi, Chief Operating Officer of Indian Highways Management Company Limited, and S O Junare, Campus Director of the National Forensic Sciences University, Gandhinagar. The signing took place in the presence of Santosh Kumar Yadav, Chairman of the National Highways Authority of India, Vishal Chauhan, Chairman and Managing Director of Indian Highways Management Company Limited, and senior officials from the National Highways Authority of India, Indian Highways Management Company Limited and the National Forensic Sciences University.
The collaboration aims to enhance cyber security frameworks and forensic reliability across critical national highway operations and digital platforms. It is designed to promote academic and research-oriented cooperation, strengthen technological resilience and build institutional capacity in areas vital to modern highway management.
Under the MoU, the National Forensic Sciences University will provide technical guidance and support to Indian Highways Management Company Limited for establishing laboratories equipped with advanced technologies. These include facilities for CCTV analysis, multimedia and audio-video analysis, digital forensics and cyber forensics. The University will also assist in strengthening cyber resilience and digital evidence integrity through specialised training programmes in cyber and digital forensics and related disciplines.
The partnership will focus on key technology-driven domains such as Multi-Lane Free Flow systems, Advanced Traffic Management Systems, Automatic Number Plate Recognition, Traffic Management Systems and Weigh-in-Motion solutions. Additional areas of cooperation include secure camera-based imaging systems, encrypted data storage and retrieval, cyber security audits of critical applications, enhancement of forensic reliability, scientific improvement of imaging accuracy, and the establishment of Security Operations Centre services and forensic validation laboratories.
Both organisations will also undertake joint research, development and consultancy projects in mutually agreed areas. Each institution will nominate a coordinator to oversee implementation and conduct periodic reviews of progress. The MoU will remain in force for a period of three years.
The agreement reflects the National Highways Authority of India’s continued focus on building a secure and robust digital ecosystem to support the rapidly expanding national highway infrastructure and ensure the integrity, reliability and safety of its technology-driven operations.
