Asia-Pacific Road User Charging Conference 2025: Introducing the Speaker - Dr. Ravindra Kumar, Central Road Research Institute, India
Dr. Ravindra Kumar, the chief scientist at the Central Road Research Institute India (CRRI), will be a confirmed speaker at the upcoming Road User Charging Conference Asia Pacific 2025. The event, scheduled for October 1-2 at Four Points by Sheraton Singapore, Riverview hotel, will bring together senior policymakers, industry leaders, and innovators to discuss best practices in planning, financing, implementation, and operation of tolling, road usage charging (RUC), and mobility pricing schemes.
Dr. Kumar, an accomplished transportation engineer with 27 years of R&D experience, has led over 60 major projects (βΉ83+ crore) and authored 150+ publications. His specialization lies in sustainable transport, vehicular emissions, driving cycle, GIS, AI, and infrastructure planning.
At the conference, Dr. Kumar will discuss emission-based charging models in India and the role of road user charging in achieving net zero and decarbonising transport. He will share insights on how real-time pricing based on traffic, emissions, and road wear will be enabled by digital platforms that use AI, telematics, and e-payments.
In his presentation, Dr. Kumar will also focus on connecting rural areas, building green highways, and using digital twins and charging models based on emissions. He will emphasise the importance of using data-driven methods, localised studies, digital twin models, GIS, and emissions analysis for dynamic pricing and policy calibration.
The conference will also highlight the future evolution of user-financed transportation in India by 2030, with a focus on public transportation, electric vehicle infrastructure, and tolls that are good for the environment. Pricing systems will include incentives for choosing more environmentally friendly travel choices and ensure accessibility for disadvantaged groups through customised models.
Green financing and climate-aligned initiatives are expected to have a significant impact on these user-financed transportation systems. Dr. Kumar, who has held divisional leadership roles and shaped policies through technical innovation and training, will provide valuable insights into these areas.
Dr. Ravindra Kumar has received 65 awards and fellowships and has been instrumental in managing teams of people from different fields in making GIS-based plans for rural accessibility, building transport corridors that are good for the environment, and creating digital tools to analyse how people use the road and how much pollution they cause.
Balancing user-financed models like tolls, congestion pricing, or road usage charges with fairness, affordability, and environmental responsibility is a current challenge that Dr. Kumar will address in his report and discussion at the conference.
Looking forward to the event, Dr. Kumar expressed his excitement about sharing ideas and best practices from India at the Road User Charging Conference Asia Pacific 2025. He stated, "I am looking forward to connecting with professionals from across the Asia-Pacific region and exchanging insights on how we can work together to achieve our common goal of sustainable transportation and reducing congestion in national contexts."
