EP-414 | Why Are India’s Roads So Dangerous? | IIT Delhi Professor Geetam Tiwari Explains

EP-414 | Why Are India’s Roads So Dangerous? | IIT Delhi Professor Geetam Tiwari Explains

Author: Asian News International (ANI) May 14, 2026 Duration: 1:11:38

Geetam Tiwari is an Emeritus Professor at the Transportation Research & Injury Prevention Centre, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi. She has over 25 years of experience in transportation planning, road safety, and urban mobility. Her work focuses on safer roads, better footpaths, bicycle infrastructure, and protecting pedestrians.


In this edition of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, she talks about why Indian cities face traffic chaos, unsafe roads, and poor pedestrian facilities. She also discusses what India needs to do to build safer, smarter, and more efficient transport systems.


00:00 – Introduction

02:21 – Rising Road Deaths

08:13 – International Driving Tests

10:03 – Road Safety Rules

11:49 – School Bus Safety

13:38 – Highways & Expressways Design Flaws

17:03 – Audible Road Markers

21:12 – Why Indians Ignore Road Signs

22:05 – Facilities on Expressways & Highways

23:53 – Expressways & Highways for Two-Wheelers

25:41 – Importance of Service Roads

29:07 – Wrong-Side Driving

31:26 – Pedestrians & Cyclists

37:45 – Public Spaces Accessibility

39:13 – Reality of Vendors on Indian Roads

41:38 – Why Foot Overbridges & Underpasses Fail

46:31 – The Pothole Problem

49:58 – Corruption in Road Construction

53:11 – Municipal Corporations and Dug-Up Roads

55:02 – Labourers at Road Construction Sites

58:18 – Road Reality Check Segment

1:04:49 – Building Proper Bicycle Paths


Conversations that shape our world often happen behind closed doors or in the quiet moments after the headlines fade. ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash pulls up a chair to those discussions, offering a direct line to the minds of influential figures. Hosted by veteran journalist Smita Prakash, this series moves beyond the soundbite, creating a space where politicians, athletes, artists, and thinkers can explore the nuances of the issues that define contemporary India and global affairs. The dialogue here is driven by curiosity and a commitment to depth, allowing guests to elaborate on their perspectives, their decisions, and the personal experiences that inform their public lives. You will hear candid reflections on current events, policy debates, and cultural shifts, all through the lens of those at the center of the story. Produced by Asian News International, the podcast leverages a legacy of journalistic access and integrity, ensuring every conversation is both insightful and substantive. It’s more than an interview; it’s an opportunity to understand the motivations and narratives driving today’s news. For anyone looking to move past the surface and engage with the substance of politics, society, and human endeavor, this podcast provides a consistently thoughtful and compelling listen.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash
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