Kia India Expands Project Buckle-Up with Road Safety Initiative in Uttarakhand

New Delhi, July 13, 2026: Kia India has expanded its flagship corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative, Project Buckle-Up, by launching its third phase in Uttarakhand in collaboration with The Social Lab (TSL) Foundation. The initiative was formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed under the guidance of Uttarakhand Chief Minister Shri Pushkar Singh Dhami.

As part of Phase III, the project will focus on improving road safety along the Dehradun–Mussoorie Highway by installing smart solar-powered sensor streetlights at key locations. The infrastructure aims to enhance visibility during night-time and adverse weather conditions, contributing to safer travel for residents and tourists.

During discussions with the Chief Minister, Kia India outlined its long-term commitment to strengthening road safety infrastructure and supporting sustainable community development in the state.

Commenting on the initiative, the Uttarakhand Government said, “Uttarakhand welcomes KIA India’s commitment towards making our roads safer through the ‘Buckle Up’ Road Safety Initiative. As a state that receives millions of pilgrims and tourists every year, road safety is not merely an infrastructure priority but a shared social responsibility. Partnerships between the Government, industry and civil society are essential to creating lasting behavioural change. We appreciate KIA India and TSL Foundation for joining hands with the Government of Uttarakhand, and we look forward to strengthening this collaboration over the coming years to build a culture of responsible and safe mobility across the state.”

Mr. Atul Sood, Sr. Vice President, Sales & Marketing, Kia India, said, “At Kia India, we believe mobility should not only connect people and places but also inspire confidence and protect lives. Safety is therefore a responsibility that extends well beyond the vehicles we engineer—it encompasses the roads we travel, the communities we serve, and the partnerships we build. Through Project Buckle Up, we are creating a collaborative platform that brings together government, industry, educational institutions, and communities to drive meaningful improvements in road safety. As we expand this initiative, our ambition is to contribute to a future where safer roads become a shared responsibility and sustainable mobility becomes a way of life.”

Mr. Sahil Arora, CEO, The Social Lab (TSL), added, “Road safety is a shared responsibility. We are proud to partner with Kia India and the Government of Uttarakhand to build a culture where every citizen returns home safely. This partnership between Kia India, the Government of Uttarakhand and TSL is a perfect example of how industry and government can come together to save lives. Our shared vision is simple – to make every journey across Uttarakhand safe.”

Project Buckle-Up has expanded progressively since its launch in 2024. During Phase II, the programme engaged more than 20,000 students across 100 colleges in Delhi-NCR through road safety awareness campaigns and a mobile car driving simulator that provided practical training in defensive driving and hazard perception.

Kia India also plans to collaborate with the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), state government agencies and civil administrations to install speed attenuators along the Delhi–Uttarakhand highway corridor and deploy 500 Kia-branded road safety barricades. Earlier, under Phase I, the company partnered with Gurugram Traffic Police to install 750 reflective crash barriers at accident-prone locations to improve visibility and reduce road accidents.

Through Project Buckle-Up, Kia India aims to combine infrastructure improvements, behavioural awareness and strategic partnerships to strengthen road safety and promote sustainable mobility across the country.