New Delhi: Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari on Thursday announced that India will introduce vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication technology that will significantly reduce the number of road accidents. According to the minister, this technology will enable cars to communicate directly with each other and issue automatic warnings to drivers.
The system, currently deployed in some countries, allows vehicles to exchange security alerts without logging into mobile or internet networks, Gadkari said.
Gadkari said V2V communications will work on the front, rear and sides of vehicles, and will take into account terrain and road curves, allowing alerts even when hazards are hidden from the driver’s sight. The technology will be integrated within advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), significantly increasing their effectiveness.
He said the estimated cost of the system would be 5,000- 7,000 per vehicle. The ministry is finalizing standards and regulations, following which a notification will be issued mandating installation in new vehicles first, followed by retrofitting in old vehicles.
To support its implementation, the Department of Telecommunications will provide free spectrum under the National Frequency Allocation Scheme, allowing vehicle manufacturers and on-board unit manufacturers to deploy the system without additional spectrum costs. Gadkari said the government aims to fully implement the technology within the current year.
Explaining how the move will strengthen the existing safety features, V. Umashankar, Secretary, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, said the new system will complement ADAS by expanding the response of vehicles. “ADAS today depends largely on what the vehicle’s sensors can detect,” Umashankar said. “V2V communications enables vehicles to warn each other about hazards beyond visual range – around curves, in poor visibility or when an obstacle is hidden – allowing earlier and automated intervention.”
Sudipto Mukherjee, vehicle safety and intelligent transport systems expert at IIT Delhi, said, “Theoretically, V2V can significantly strengthen ADAS by allowing vehicles to share warnings even when there is no threat visible, such as around a bend or in poor visibility. However, the real assessment will be how it performs in a social context on the road.” He also warned of the complexities associated with situations where vehicles operate both with and without V2V.
According to an industry estimate, by 2024, more than 20 million vehicles were equipped with V2V-ready onboard units, with Asia-Pacific contributing 24% of deployment. (Vehicle-to-Vehicle Communications Market Intelligence Report from Congruence Market Insights)
Gadkari was addressing reporters at the conclusion of the two-day annual consultation between MoRTH and state transport departments.
Apart from V2V, the minister also said that a comprehensive cashless scheme for the treatment of street survivors and well-meaning people will be launched by the Prime Minister.
In view of the recent sleeper bus fire incidents, he said that from September 2025 only bus bodies manufactured by original manufacturers will be allowed and all buses must have fire detection systems. Additionally, all public buses will be made handicapped-friendly with hydraulic lifts and wheelchair access.