NHAI Partners with National Forensic Sciences University to Bolster Cybersecurity Infrastructure

The Indian Highways Management Company Limited (IHMCL), promoted by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), has entered into a partnership with the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU) to enhance cybersecurity and digital forensics capabilities across the country's highway infrastructure.

The Memorandum of Understanding was signed on February 2, 2026, by A.R. Chitranshi, Chief Operating Officer of IHMCL, and Dr. S.O. Junare, Campus Director of NFSU Gandhinagar. The signing ceremony was attended by NHAI Chairman Santosh Kumar Yadav, Vishal Chauhan, Chairman and Managing Director of IHMCL, and other senior officials from both organizations.

The three-year agreement establishes a framework for cooperation in research, training, and consultancy, with particular emphasis on cyber forensics, digital evidence integrity, and advanced technological applications relevant to highway management.

Under the partnership, NFSU will provide technical guidance for developing specialized laboratories equipped with cutting-edge technology for CCTV analysis, multimedia forensics, audio-video examination, and digital and cyber forensics. The university will also deliver specialized training programs to strengthen cyber resilience and evidence integrity.

The collaboration will specifically target several technological systems currently deployed in highway management, including Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) tolling, Advanced Traffic Management Systems (ATMS), Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR), Traffic Management Systems (TMS), and Weigh-in-Motion (WIM) systems.

Additional focus areas include secure camera-based imaging systems, encrypted data storage and retrieval mechanisms, cybersecurity audits of critical applications, and the establishment of Security Operations Centre (SOC) services and forensic validation laboratories.

Both organizations will jointly undertake research, development, and consultancy projects in mutually agreed areas. Each institution will appoint a coordinator to oversee implementation and conduct periodic progress reviews.

NFSU, headquartered in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, is a Government of India Institution of National Importance. The partnership reflects NHAI's commitment to developing secure and robust digital infrastructure to support the country's expanding national highway network.