The Government of India is evaluating a proposal to mandate Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) communication technology by the end of 2026. Announced by Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, the initiative is a core component of a strategy to improve road safety and reduce traffic-related fatalities. The proposal follows a high-level meeting with transport officials from across 28 states and Union Territories to address the country’s high accident rates.
Technical Framework and Spectrum Allocation
V2V technology enables vehicles to exchange critical safety data wirelessly without relying on line-of-sight sensors. To support this infrastructure, the Department of Telecommunications has granted in-principle approval for 30MHz of spectrum in the 5.875-5.905GHz band. This dedicated frequency will allow on-board units to transmit and receive information regarding:
- Real-time vehicle position and directional heading
- Current speed and sudden braking maneuvers
- Hazard alerts for blind spots and low-visibility conditions
- Warnings for stationary vehicles or upcoming intersection risks
Implementation Strategy and Cost
The government plans to introduce the mandate in phases, starting with factory-fitted units for new vehicles. Subsequent phases will target commercial fleets and the retrofitting of existing vehicles. Current estimates place the cost of these on-board units between ₹5,000 and ₹7,000 per vehicle. The total program cost is projected at approximately ₹5,000 crore. This investment is linked to India’s broader objective of halving road fatalities by 2030, following a year in which the country recorded over 1.7 lakh deaths across five lakh reported accidents.
Industry Challenges and Feasibility Concerns
While the safety benefits are documented, the 2026 deadline presents significant logistical and technical hurdles for the automotive sector. Key challenges include:
- Standardization: Technical protocols are still being drafted to ensure that vehicles from different manufacturers can communicate seamlessly.
- Cost Sensitivity: The addition of dedicated hardware may impact vehicle pricing in a market highly sensitive to cost fluctuations.
- Global Precedent: Although V2V spectrum has been allocated in regions like the US, Europe, and China, large-scale national deployment has not yet been fully realized, leaving India with few established blueprints for a rapid rollout.
The transition from a conceptual framework to a nationwide mandate will require accelerated regulatory clarity and close coordination with automotive supply chains to ensure hardware availability and system validation by the proposed deadline.
