IHMCL and NFSU Sign MoU to Strengthen Cyber Security in Highway Operations

The MoU aims to foster collaboration in research, training and consultancy, with a particular focus on cyber forensics, digital evidence integrity and advanced technological applications relevant to national highway management.

In a move to enhance digital security, cyber resilience and data protection in national highway operations, Indian Highways Management Company Limited (IHMCL)—a company promoted by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI)—has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU).

NFSU is a Government of India Institution of National Importance, headquartered in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. The MoU aims to foster collaboration in research, training and consultancy, with a particular focus on cyber forensics, digital evidence integrity and advanced technological applications relevant to national highway management.

MoU Signing and Key Objectives

The MoU was signed by Shri A. R. Chitranshi, Chief Operating Officer, IHMCL, and Dr. S. O. Junare, Campus Director, NFSU Gandhinagar, in the presence of Shri Santosh Kumar Yadav, Chairman, NHAI, and Shri Vishal Chauhan, Chairman and Managing Director, IHMCL, along with senior officials from NHAI, IHMCL and NFSU.

The agreement seeks to promote mutually beneficial academic and research-oriented cooperation between the two institutions, strengthening technological resilience, institutional capacity building and forensic reliability across IHMCL’s digital platforms and critical highway operations.

Strengthening Cyber and Forensic Capabilities

Under the MoU, NFSU will provide technical guidance and expertise to support IHMCL in setting up state-of-the-art laboratories, including facilities for:

• CCTV and secure camera-based imaging systems

• Multimedia and audio-video analysis

• Digital and cyber forensics

The University will also support IHMCL through specialised training programmes in cyber and digital forensics, multimedia analysis and related domains, aimed at strengthening cyber resilience and evidence integrity.

Focus on Advanced Highway Technologies

The collaboration will focus on securing and enhancing emerging highway technologies and digital systems, including:

• Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) tolling

• Advanced Traffic Management Systems (ATMS)

• Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR)

• Traffic Management Systems (TMS)

• Weigh-in-Motion (WIM) systems

Identified areas of cooperation also include encrypted data storage and retrieval, cyber security reviews of critical applications, scientific improvement of imaging accuracy, establishment of Security Operations Centre (SOC) services and creation of forensic validation laboratories.

Joint Research and Institutional Collaboration

Both organisations will undertake joint research, development and consultancy projects in mutually agreed areas. A designated coordinator from each institution will oversee implementation and conduct periodic reviews to ensure effective execution of the partnership.

The MoU will remain valid for a period of three years.

Advancing Secure Digital Infrastructure

The collaboration reflects NHAI’s commitment to building secure and robust digital ecosystems to support India’s rapidly expanding national highway infrastructure. By integrating forensic science, cyber security and advanced digital governance, the partnership is expected to significantly strengthen the reliability, transparency and resilience of highway operations nationwide.