Our Work · Project Rakshak

Solving Road Infrastructural Issues Through Youth-Led Interventions

Rakshak puts India’s sharpest young minds on the country’s riskiest roads — auditing, advocating and rebuilding the infrastructure that costs us 177,000+ lives a year.

Join Project Rakshak Explore the work map

High Risk Locations Assessed: 120+
High Risk Locations Assessed
Approvals Secured: 25+
Approvals Secured
Expert Road Safety Audits: 31+
Expert Road Safety Audits

Mentors & Interns Affiliations

About Project Rakshak

A nationwide initiative rebuilding India’s most dangerous roads.

Rakshak is a structured intern-led programme that pairs college students across India with road-safety mentors, civic agencies and engineering experts. Each cohort picks a high-risk corridor in their city and works it end-to-end — from data and audits to public advocacy and concrete fixes.

The goal is simple: turn the next generation of Indians into the first generation that refuses to accept 177,000 road deaths a year as normal.

Cities Covered

900+

Stakeholder Surveys

30%

Crash Reduction Potential

What we tackle

The road problems Rakshak goes after

Every cohort focuses on the issues that quietly cause the most damage in Indian cities.

Speed & Conflict Risks

Overspeeding and unsafe vehicle interactions at uncontrolled intersections.

Lack of Traffic Control & Regulation

Non-functional or entirely absent traffic signals and signage.

Vulnerable Road Users

Lack of safe pedestrian and cyclist crossings and protected infrastructure.

Road Infrastructure Deficiencies

Potholes, uneven surfaces, water-logging, and deteriorated pavements.

Encroachment & Parking Obstructions

Illegal parking and roadside encroachment reducing effective carriageway width.

Inadequate Traffic Management

No lane discipline due to lack of markings, channelisation and operational planning.

The Rakshak method

Four phases. One stretch of road at a time.

A repeatable framework cohorts follow from scouting a junction to documenting the fix.

Phase 1
01
of four
Phase 1
Research & Development on Problem Area
Students conduct thorough field research to identify high-risk road locations and map infrastructure gaps across their communities.
- Identify accident-prone zones and dangerous intersections
- GPS-map all hazardous locations with photographic evidence
- Compile baseline data from traffic police and civic records
Phase 2
02
of four
Phase 2
Conduct stakeholder surveys with diverse road-users
Teams connect with civic authorities, traffic police, and local communities to understand ground realities and conduct expert safety audits.
- Conduct 30+ stakeholder surveys across communities
- Host consultations with municipal and traffic authorities
- Perform expert road safety audits at critical sites
Phase 3
03
of four
Phase 3
Case Study Analysis & Solution Development
In-depth case study analysis is conducted to develop actionable, evidence-based solutions for identified infrastructure challenges.
- Analyze case studies of successful road safety interventions
- Design practical and cost-effective safety solutions
- Propose signage, markings, and geometric corrections
Phase 4
04
of four
Phase 4
Final Report & Authority Presentations
Comprehensive reports are compiled and presented to civic authorities for approval, implementation, and long-term impact tracking.
- Compile detailed final reports with evidence and recommendations
- Present findings to municipal and traffic authorities
- Document outcomes for scalable replication nationwide

Live work map

See every junction Rakshak is working on, right now.

Drop into our interactive map to explore every active site, what the cohort is fixing, and the change it’s already driven on the ground.

Open the work map

The Full Report

Project Rakshak Cohort 1: The Complete Report

Our full 115-page report documents youth-led road safety audits across 18 cities — recurring infrastructure risks, city-wise findings with photos, proposed interventions, and the case for scaling Project Rakshak nationwide.

Teams

Cities Covered

900+

Stakeholder Surveys

23+

Authority Approvals

20–30%

Crash Reduction Potential

View Full Report Download PDF (14 MB)

Our Mentors & Advisors

The people guiding every cohort

Practitioners, researchers and former officials who've spent careers on Indian roads.

Advisor

Dr. Richa Ahuja

Assistant Professor

IIT Kharagpur

Mentor

Dr. A.V.A. Bharat Kumar

Asst Prof, Civil Engineering

Vignan's Foundation for Science, Technology and Research

Mentor

Mehraab Nazir

Ph.D. Scholar

IIT Delhi

Mentor

Priyanshu Aman

Ph.D. Scholar

IIT Delhi

Mentor

Dr. Parveen Kumar

PhD

IIT Delhi

Mentor

Rashmeet Kaur

Ph.D. Scholar

IIT Delhi

Mentor

Rajat Kalsi

Road Safety Specialist

Chandigarh Administration

Mentor

Amandeep Kumar

Senior Transport Planner

KPMG

Mentor

Asha S V

PhD Scholar

TRIP Centre

Join Project Rakshak

Spend a semester making one stretch of road safer for life.

Applications open twice a year for college students across India. No prior experience needed — just a stubborn refusal to accept unsafe roads.

Apply for Project Rakshak Read the playbook

12-week structured program with weekly mentor reviews
Field kits, training, and stipend support for active interns
Letter of recommendation from leading road-safety experts
Your work published on the Rakshak public work map

What you'll actually be doing

Scout and GPS-map high-risk locations on one road corridor in your city, with photos.
Run stakeholder surveys and expert safety audits with traffic police, civic authorities and locals.
Analyse case studies and design practical, low-cost safety fixes — signage, markings, geometry.
Compile the final report and present findings to municipal and traffic authorities.

Top performing teams · Cohort 01