Sensor-based siren installed at Kalinga Ghat to alert drivers the vehicles coming from opposite direction
Bureau,Odishabarta
Phulbani,(05/12/25):The State Transport Authority (STA) of Odisha with the support of IIT Bhubaneswar has now used the latest technology to prevent accidents on the ghat roads and installed sensor-based siren at the Kalinga Ghat on an experimental basis.
first for in Odisha state, a modernised vehicle sensor alert system has been installed on the accident-prone Kalinga Ghat, located in between the Ganjam-Kandhamal district border.
The device, developed by IIT Bhubaneswar, by setting their goal how to reduce collisions on the ghat’s sharp curves, where visibility is limited and vehicles often approach from both sides simultaneously.
Speaking to media persons a senior officer The solar-powered, automated system is equipped with sensors and cameras mounted on 4-foot-high poles on either side of the road. When a vehicle approaches from one side, a red light flashes on the opposite side and a siren sounds, alerting oncoming drivers to prevent head-on collisions. The system is operational both during the day and at night.
A team from IIT Bhubaneswar installed the device on Thursday, with assistance from transportation officials, including Shivani Majhi, Bulu Behera of G. Udayagiri police station, and National Highway assistant engineer Prashant Kumar Sahu.
The initiative follows landslides in September that damaged portions of the ghat road, which have since been reconstructed. While traffic has resumed, safety concerns persisted due to frequent near-misses at sharp bends. Local residents have welcomed the new system, calling it a significant step toward accident prevention.
IIT Bhubaneswar officials have stated that if the pilot installation proves successful, similar devices will be deployed at other accident-prone ghat sections across the Odisha.
The Odisha State Transport Authority has introduced an experimental warning siren system at Kalinga Ghat in Kandhamal district to reduce accidents. This initiative, implemented in collaboration with IIT Bhubaneswar, uses sensors to alert drivers of oncoming vehicles from the opposite direction, promoting cautious driving, especially during winter when fog and increased traffic contribute to higher accident rates.
This pilot project is part of broader efforts by the Commerce and Transport Department to enhance road safety, including awareness campaigns and enforcement measures. If successful, the system will be expanded to other accident-prone areas, leveraging technology and institutional partnerships to save lives.
