Did you know that on India's National Highways, pedestrian accidents are increasing at an alarming rate? In just one year, pedestrian fatalities have risen from 9,462 to 10,160, which means an average of one pedestrian dies every hour. Despite the presence of Foot Over Bridges (FOBs), many pedestrians continue to cross the roads at grade level, highlighting a critical safety issue.

This highlights the urgency of addressing pedestrian and Vulnerable Road Users (VRUs) safety, especially the underutilization of Foot Over Bridges (FOBs) and the need for safer crossings and infrastructure improvements.

In light of these concerning statistics, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the Highway Operators Association - India (HOAI) are coming together to host a joint hackathon aimed at finding innovative solutions to improve pedestrian safety on national highways.

This is an exciting opportunity for you to be part of a project that could make a real impact on road safety and help save lives.

Are You the One? Discover What We’re Looking For

Can your ideas help saving precious human lives?

This Hackathon is your chance to reimagine Foot Over Bridges (FOBs) as more than just structures-they can be life-saving solutions! We are calling on innovative thinkers, designers, and problem-solvers to come up with creative strategies and solutions that address both behavioral and engineering challenges around the use of FOBs on multilane rural highways.

This is not just a competition—it’s a mission to:

• Save lives by reducing pedestrian fatalities on India’s highways.
• Transform infrastructure into user-friendly, safe, and efficient spaces for pedestrians.
• Impact families and communities by offering real solutions to a growing safety crisis.

Your ideas have the power to make a difference and transform road safety across the country. Not only could you be part of a groundbreaking solution, but you could also earn the heartfelt gratitude of countless families who will benefit from your innovative contributions.

Join us in this important cause. Together, we can make a lasting impact!

Eligibility and Team Rules:

• The hackathon is open to all students, currently enrolled in a college/institute in India.
• Everyone must select their Regional Office (RO) of NHAI in the registration form, according to their institute's address. Please refer to this table - Click Here.
• If you do not find your institute's address in the above-mentioned table, please select the nearest RO of NHAI. 
• A team shall consist of 1-2 members, one of whom will be the team leader.
• Cross-year teams are allowed.
• Cross-college teams are not allowed.
• All team members must select the same NHAI RO in their registration form. 
• One student cannot be part of more than one team.

Teams are free to choose the ideas that impact road safety, however, they must fall into at least one of these four categories.

Category 1: Strategy for Enhancing Foot Over Bridge (FOB) Utilization

• Objective: This category focuses on creating strategic solutions that aim to improve the overall utilization of Foot Over Bridges (FOBs) by addressing the behavioral, structural, and situational challenges faced by users.
• What Needs to Be Done:
  • Behavioral Challenges: Propose solutions to encourage users to use FOBs more frequently, rather than crossing roads at grade level.
  • Structural Challenges: Identify and propose improvements to the design of existing FOBs to make them more accessible, convenient, and user-friendly.
  • Situational Challenges: This category is more general, focused on improving the overall usage of FOBs. It involves looking at the broader issues that prevent pedestrians from using FOBs, such as design inefficiencies, user behavior, and location factors.

Category 2: Design of Surroundings Around Foot Over Bridges (FOBs)

• Objective: This category aims to enhance the environment around FOBs, transforming neglected or underutilized spaces into functional, safe, and aesthetically pleasing areas that encourage the use of the bridges.
• What Needs to Be Done:
  • Urban Design Around FOBs: Propose designs for the areas beneath and around FOBs that promote safety, aesthetic appeal, and functional use.
  • Safety and Accessibility
  • Encourage FOB Use: Design surrounding areas that will make users feel safe and comfortable approaching and using the FOBs. The goal is to create an environment that motivates more people to use the FOBs rather than jaywalk or cross at dangerous intersections.
• How It’s Different from the Other Categories: Unlike the first category, which focuses on strategy, this category is more about the physical environment surrounding FOBs. It seeks to enhance the spaces that pedestrians encounter before, during, and after using the bridge, ensuring the area itself is not a deterrent.

Category 3: Pedestrian-Only Foot Over Bridge Solutions

• Objective: This category is focused on the design of dedicated Foot Over Bridges (FOBs) for pedestrians only, creating safe, efficient, and uninterrupted crossings for people on foot.
• What Needs to Be Done:
  • Exclusive Pedestrian Pathways: Design FOBs exclusively for pedestrians that ensure safety and smooth access without interference from motor vehicles.
  • Safety Features: The design should prioritize pedestrian safety. The structure should
    also consider the needs of vulnerable groups, such as the elderly, children, and
    differently abled individuals.
  • Traffic Flow: Focus on improving the efficiency of pedestrian movement across roads
    by ensuring minimal wait times, direct routes, and user-friendly design elements.
• How It’s Different from the Other Categories: This category is specifically focused on the design of FOBs that cater exclusively to pedestrians, ensuring safe and effective crossings for foot traffic. In contrast, the first two categories focus on utilization strategy and the surrounding environment, while this category looks at dedicated solutions for pedestrian safety and convenience.

Category 4: Mixed-Mode Foot Over Bridge Solutions

• Objective: This category explores the design of mixed-mode Foot Over Bridges (FOBs) that can safely accommodate pedestrians, cyclists, and two-wheelers on the same structure, offering shared pathways for safe road crossings.
• What Needs to Be Done:
  • Propose designs for shared pathways that safely accommodate pedestrians, cyclists, and two-wheelers. The design must balance the needs of all users, ensuring that no group is put at risk by another.
  • Safety and Space Optimization: Ensure that the design optimizes space while maintaining safe distances between different types of users.
  • Seamless Coexistence: The goal is to ensure seamless interaction between all users while prioritizing safety and ease of movement.
• How It’s Different from the Other Categories: This category is specifically about the design of mixed-use FOBs that serve multiple types of users. It requires an innovative approach to ensure safety and space optimization, which is different from the pedestrian-only category, which focuses solely on pedestrians.

Competition Structure:

• Case Launch and Mentorship Session:
  • A case launch session with virtual interaction with the NHAI Chairman and HOAI Leadership will be conducted.
  • Teams will be guided on how to approach the Concept Note submission round. 
• Concept Note Submission:
  • Concept Note of up to 500 words (2-slider PDF) shall be submitted by the teams.
  • Teams must choose the theme(s) they have worked on before uploading their submission.
  • A minimum of 150 teams will be shortlisted (preferably 6 teams each from the 25 Regional Offices of NHAI).
• Detailed Note Submission: 
  • The shortlisted teams shall further work on the solution and shall also take up one of the accident spots having considerable pedestrian accidents in their zone and showcase their solution for this selected location.
  • Detailed Note of up to 2000 words shall be submitted by the shortlisted teams.
  • Teams will also be required to submit scanned copies of their college ID cards.
  • We also encourage the teams to onboard their professors as mentors for a refined submission. Please mention the name of your professor as 'mentor' in your file, if you are being mentored by him/her.
  • A minimum of 25 teams will be shortlisted for the next round. 
• National Semi-Finale:
  • The teams will get mentorship from experts and will present their work to the Jury.
  • Organizers may verify the team member details from their institute at this stage.
  • The jury will hence select a maximum of 10 teams that will make their presentation at the National Final.
• National Finale:
  • Overall top 10 teams will be selected for the Finale.
  • The Grand finale is to be held physically in the NHAI HQ in Delhi.*
  • Each team will get to interact with the leadership and showcase their solution.
  • Candidates will have to handle their travel and accommodations.

Curious About Your Prize? Here’s What You’re Getting

Step into the spotlight and make a difference with your ideas!

• National Finale Winner: Total cash prize worth INR 2,00,000.
• 1st Runner-Up: Total cash prize worth INR 1,50,000.
• 2nd Runner-Up: Total cash prizes worth INR 1,00,000.
• Finalists: Each of the remaining Finalist teams will be rewarded with total cash prizes worth INR 50,000.
• All finalists will gain exclusive internship opportunities with HOAI or HOAI Member Organizations.
• Each participant will receive a Certificate of Participation. All stage-wise shortlisted participants, and winners will receive Stagewise Qualification and Winning Certificates respectively.

Step up to become a Guardian of the Highways and save lives while earning the heartfelt gratitude of citizens across the nation!

*Finalists will be responsible for managing their own travel and accommodation arrangements.