Indian Highways Management Company Limited (IHMCL) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU) to strengthen cybersecurity, digital forensics and data protection across India’s national highway infrastructure.
The collaboration will focus on research, training and consultancy in areas related to cyber forensics and the integrity of digital evidence, as highway operations increasingly rely on advanced digital systems.
MoU Signing and Key Officials
The MoU was signed by A R Chitranshi, Chief Operating Officer of IHMCL, and Dr S O Junare, Campus Director, NFSU Gandhinagar. The signing ceremony was attended by senior officials, including National Highways Authority of India Chairman Santosh Kumar Yadav and IHMCL Chairman and Managing Director Vishal Chauhan.
Officials said the partnership reflects a shared focus on building cyber resilience in critical public infrastructure.
Focus on Cybersecurity and Digital Forensics
Under the agreement, IHMCL and NFSU will work together to enhance cybersecurity frameworks for national highway operations. The collaboration includes technical guidance for setting up advanced laboratories for CCTV analysis, multimedia examination and cyber forensics, along with specialised training programmes in digital forensics and related domains.
The partnership will also support academic and research-driven collaboration, aimed at improving institutional capacity and adopting global best practices in cyber security.
Technology Areas Covered
The MoU will support cybersecurity and forensic preparedness for key highway technologies, 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) solutions.
Other focus areas include secure camera-based imaging systems, encrypted data storage and retrieval, cybersecurity audits of critical applications, forensic validation of imaging data and the establishment of Security Operations Centre (SOC) services.
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Research and Long-Term Collaboration
Both organisations will also undertake joint research, development and consultancy projects in mutually agreed areas. Dedicated coordinators will be nominated by each side to oversee implementation and periodically review progress.
The MoU will remain valid for three years, reinforcing the commitment of IHMCL and its parent authority, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, to building a secure and future-ready digital ecosystem for India’s expanding national highway network.