Expanding roads, rising risks: Navigating India’s mobility revolution

As India’s road network expands, Kataline is leading the way in road safety with high-performance marking materials, worldwide technological partnerships, and professional training. Kataline, which operates in 32 countries including India, combines innovation, quality, and on-the-ground expertise to ensure that every line Kataline draws contributes to making each travel safer and smarter.

India is proud to have one of the largest road networks in the world. However, this rapid expansion raises concerns about road safety. In 2022, India reported over 1.6 lakh road deaths and 4.6 lakh accidents, according to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH).

The government is taking several steps to curb these accidents, ranging from public awareness campaigns to emphasising safety aspects from the design to the opening phase of roads. This also aligns with their commitment to the UN Safe System Approach and Vision Zero initiative, which aims to eliminate all traffic fatalities and serious injuries.

The growing Indian economy and the need for mobility have resulted in a staggering number of vehicles on the roads. Reports suggest there are around 260 million two-wheelers and 50 million cars on Indian roads. (Source : dataforIndia).

Markings matter: The unsung heroes of road safety
Road Markings are integral to ensuring the safety of motorised and non-motorised traffic, as they assist, inform, control, and guide road users. Yet, despite quality checks on road projects, thermoplastic road marking (the most common chemistry of road marking paints) is often overlooked due to budget limits or low priority.

At an institutional level, it is essential to inform road users about lane discipline and emphasise that road markings are visual guides, not tracks to drive directly over. Driving on the markings, rather than beside them, accelerates the wear of thermoplastic paint, which is designed to wear off with repeated vehicle contact.

Guiding every journey: Types and importance of road markings
Roads come in many types, each serving different purposes and handling varying volumes of traffic. Expressways and national highways are built for high-speed, heavy traffic, connecting major cities and regions. State highways, major district roads, and village roads handle progressively less traffic and often connect smaller towns or rural areas. The volume of vehicles using a road determines the kind of markings and maintenance needed to keep everyone safe and traffic flowing smoothly.

Road markings are vital on all these roads, acting as silent guides for drivers and pedestrians. There are several types of road markings: longitudinal markings (like lane dividers and edge lines), transverse markings (such as stop and give-way lines), hazard markings (to warn of dangers or guide merging), block markings (like zebra crossings), arrow markings (showing direction), and facility markings (for parking or bus stops). These markings are important on busy roads, where clear guidance can prevent accidents and confusion. Even on quieter roads, they ensure that everyone knows where to drive, park, or cross, making the journey safer for all road users.

What’s common to all these markings is differentiating between Road Markings Lines and Performing Road Markings Lines. Only performing lines ensure visibility during the day as well as reflectivity during the night, thereby enhancing safety for all road users.

The quintet of performing lines
The five stakeholders, if working in harmony, can create and maintain road markings that keep everyone safe on the road.

Manufacturer
Manufacturers are the backbone of the quintet, responsible for producing high-quality thermoplastic road marking materials. Their role goes beyond just making paint—they ensure every batch meets strict standards for durability and visibility, using advanced automated production facilities and in-house certified labs for testing. By maintaining consistent quality and providing reliable materials, manufacturers lay the foundation for safe and long-lasting road markings.

Applicator
Applicators are the skilled hands of the quintet. Their job is to apply the markings correctly, using the right equipment and techniques. Experienced and certified, they make sure the lines are straight, visible, and adhere well to the road surface. By following best practices and using approved materials, applicators help guarantee that the markings perform well and last as intended.

Government Monitoring Agency
Government agencies act as the guardians of the process. They establish the rules, check quality, and ensure that everyone adheres to the standards. These agencies contribute to the quality and safety of road markings by conducting regular factory inspections and on-site performance tests for reflectivity and workmanship. Their oversight ensures that all parties are accountable and that the markings meet the required safety and visibility standards.

Contractor
Contractors are the coordinators, bringing together manufacturers, applicators, and agencies to complete the project. They manage the work, handle documentation, and make sure that warranties and certifications are in place. By overseeing the process from start to finish, contractors help deliver road markings that are safe, visible, and built to last.

Consultant (Design and Supervision)
Consultants ensure road marking designs follow the best national and international practices, adapting them to real site conditions and foreseeing road safety issues. They combine technical expertise with a practical understanding of on-ground realities, offering solutions that are effective and feasible. By supervising the work, they help maintain quality and compliance throughout the project.

Beyond Thermoplastic Paint: How we bring people, technology, and partnerships together to transform road safety
Kataline believes that true road safety comes from bringing all five partners—the “Quintet”—together. Their fully automated production facility, with an annual production capacity of 100,000 MT of thermoplastic and 10,000 KL of cold plastics and cold paints, produces the Traffix Range of thermoplastic road marking materials that meet and exceed MoRTH, AASHTO, BS, BSEN, and APAS specifications. With luminance values exceeding 85 per cent and an excellent contrast ratio, these are highly visible during the day and enhance visibility at night.

Their global partners, SWARCO and BORUM, share the vision of road safety. SWARCO enhances the paints with their SOLID Plus high refractive index glass beads, enabling reflectivity values from 350 mcd/sqm/lux to over 800 mcd/sqm/lux. BORUM’s precision equipment ensures sharp, efficient line application. Together, they deliver solutions that are proven to enhance safety and withstand the most challenging road and geographic environments.

Kataline invests in people as much as they do in products. Through the Kataline Centre of Excellence, they invest in training and upskilling road marking teams, focusing on safe, efficient road marking techniques that protect both road users and applicators.

Their long-standing association with leading contractors and consultants across India and 32 countries throughout Africa, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Australasia reflects our commitment to quality, timely support, and practical on-site solutions.

By connecting manufacturers, applicators, agencies, contractors, and consultants, they are building a safer, smarter-tomorrow —from design to application and monitoring—adhering to best global practices, adapting to local needs, and prioritising the safety of all road users. Kataline is not just marking roads; they are MARKING EVERY JOURNEY SAFE.

For more information, visit: https://katalineindia.com/