National Transportation Planning and Research Centre

What National Transportation Planning and Research Centre does

NATPAC (KSCSTE – National Transportation Planning and Research Centre) is a state-government R&D institution established in 1976 under the Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment (KSCSTE), Government of Kerala, headquartered in Thiruvananthapuram with regional offices in Ernakulam and Kozhikode and a staff of 91. It conducts multi-modal transportation research and consultancy across four scientific divisions — Highway Engineering, Traffic Engineering & Safety, Transportation Planning, and Water Transport (including GIS) — supported by specialized laboratories for bitumen, aggregates, soil, water and air-quality testing, dynamic traffic-analysis equipment (DSR, TIRTL, radar, video analytics), and an in-house Road Safety E-Learning Portal.

Its service portfolio comprises paid consultancy for road safety audits, detailed project reports (DPRs), traffic and transportation studies, mobility plans, and waterway studies for government clients; fee-based laboratory testing; formal student internship programmes priced at INR 1,000–5,000; and externally-funded training programmes such as the MoEF&CC-sponsored 450-hour GSDP EV Charging Installation Technician course. Revenue mechanics combine institutional grants from KSCSTE, project-based consultancy contracts with state agencies (Kerala PWD, KIIFB, KRFB, KSRTC, Kochi Municipal Corporation, Kochi Water Metro, Technopark), and MoEF&CC/ISRO funding for specific training and outreach programmes. Go-to-market is direct enterprise/field engagement with government and quasi-government clients in Kerala, supplemented by academic partnerships (notably an MoU with CUSAT signed March 2026) and knowledge dissemination through journals, conferences, the TransTech and TransPedia Talk Series, and a public website and blog.

Name

National Transportation Planning and Research Centre

Legal name

National Transportation Planning and Research Centre (NATPAC)

Website

https://natpac.kerala.gov.in

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

NATPAC is a 1976-founded Kerala state-government R&D institution under KSCSTE that delivers multi-modal transportation research, consultancy, and laboratory testing to state agencies, municipal bodies, and academic clients, with 91 staff across three Kerala offices.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Transportation Research and Consultancy

NAICS

Administration of Housing Programs, Urban Planning, and Community Development (925)

akta.pro primary industry

State/Provincial Transportation, Roads & Public Works Administration (BPAIABAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Road & Tunnel Operations/Construction Interfaces (Tolling Infrastructure, Ventilation/Fire-Life-Safety Civil Works) (IMAFAEAL)

Keywords

• Transportation research
• Traffic engineering
• Road safety audits
• Highway engineering
• Transportation planning

Headquarters

HQ city

Thiruvananthapuram

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Government Research Grants: NATPAC receives institutional funding from KSCSTE (Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment), which is part of the Government of Kerala. The centre undertakes funded research projects from various government sources including MoEF&CC for green skill development programs.
2. Consultancy Services: NATPAC provides paid consultancy services to government agencies, PWD departments, municipal corporations, and other bodies. Consultancy fees are charged for project studies, DPR preparation, traffic studies, road safety audits, and technical reviews.
3. Student Training Fees: NATPAC charges fee for student internships and project work. Undergraduate students pay INR 1,000-3,000 depending on duration; postgraduate students pay INR 2,500-5,000. Fee structure effective from April 2025.
4. Laboratory Testing Services: NATPAC offers paid laboratory testing services for bitumen, aggregates, soil, bituminous mixes, water quality, and air quality. Tests are available to external parties for a fee.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

NATPAC is a government research and development institution that undertakes research and consultancy projects across multi-modal transportation covering highway engineering, traffic engineering and safety, transportation planning, inland water transport, GIS-based geomatics, intelligent transport systems, and transport economics. It operates specialized laboratories (Highway, Traffic, Environment, and Survey) and provides laboratory testing services, road safety audits, detailed project reports, training programs, and technical publications for government agencies and institutional clients.

Product overview

KSCSTE-NATPAC is a premier research and development institution under Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment that operates as a multi-disciplinary transportation research center. The organization offers a comprehensive portfolio of scientific divisions covering Highway Engineering, Traffic Engineering & Safety, Transportation Planning, and Water Transport (including GIS). Core services include laboratory testing for highway materials (bitumen, aggregates, soil, bituminous mixes), consultancy services for transportation projects, and training programs for road safety and transportation professionals. The center also maintains research publication outputs and operates a digital library for knowledge resources. All divisions work collaboratively to provide integrated solutions for transportation challenges in Kerala.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Highway Engineering Division Provides scientific, sustainable and innovative solutions for highway engineering problems including pavement materials research, use of innovative materials, and pavement design for government infrastructure projects.
• Traffic Engineering and Safety Division Dedicated division focused on road safety research, traffic engineering studies, accident black spot analysis, and safety improvement measures for Kerala's transportation network.
• Transportation Planning Division Handles transportation planning studies, comprehensive mobility plans, public transport studies, fare revision studies, and socio-economic impact analysis for regions in Kerala.
• Water Transport Division (including GIS) Conducts basic and applied research on inland water transport, waterway development studies, GIS-based mapping, and geospatial analysis for transportation networks including waterways such as Kochi Water Metro and Kuttanad.
• Laboratory Testing Services Well-equipped laboratories offering tests on bitumen, aggregates, soil, bituminous mixes, water quality, and air quality for government agencies and external clients.
• Consultancy Services Expert consultancy for transportation planning, traffic management, road safety audits, feasibility studies, detailed project report (DPR) preparation, and technical review for infrastructure projects commissioned by government agencies.
• Training Programs Organizes workshops, seminars, and training programs on road safety audit certification, driver training for hazardous goods transportation, EV charging installation (GSDP course), and IIRS outreach programs for professionals and students.
• Student Internship and Project Work Formal paid internship and project work programs for undergraduate and postgraduate students from engineering colleges, with applications submitted online and selection based on screening.
• Road Safety E-Learning Portal Digital learning platform for road safety education and training programs accessible to students, professionals, and the general public.
• Research Publications and Library Services Technical reports, journal papers, conference papers, books/book chapters, and newsletters documenting transportation research, complemented by a digital library with collection of books on transportation, traffic engineering, transport economics, urban planning, water transport, and environment, including IRC publications.

Quantifiable outcome

• Road safety audit completed for 410.65km of KIIFB-funded roads in Kerala
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

AI capability6 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CUSAT (Cochin University of Science and Technology)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 March 2026NATPAC signed an MoU with CUSAT for academic and research collaboration. The partnership supports joint research projects, student mentorship, and knowledge sharing between the premier transportation research institute and the university.
• EIACP Programme Centre Hub-KSCSTEminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026The GSDP EV Charging Installation Technician course is sanctioned to the EIACP Programme Centre Hub-KSCSTE and is being conducted at NATPAC. EIACP (Environmental Information, Awareness, Capacity Building and Livelihood Programme) is a Ministry of Environment initiative.
• KSCSTE (Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment)coreOthersNATPAC is an institution under KSCSTE, which is part of the Government of Kerala. KSCSTE is the parent organization providing institutional governance, funding, and administrative oversight for NATPAC and other R&D centres in Kerala.
• ISRO / IIRS (Indian Institute of Remote Sensing)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNATPAC serves as a Nodal Centre for IIRS outreach training programmes under ISRO. Training is conducted online through live and interactive sessions via the ECLASS platform.
• Kochi Water Metro (Kochi Metro Rail Limited)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNATPAC conducts performance evaluation and ridership enhancement studies for the Kochi Water Metro project. This involves assessing passenger satisfaction, operational efficiency, and sustainable integration with other transport modes.
• Kerala Road Safety Authority (KRSA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNATPAC collaborates with KRSA on road safety initiatives including the Safe Road to School programme and joint road safety inspections. KRSA works with NATPAC scientists on accident black spot analysis and safety improvement measures.
• Indian Roads Congress (IRC)minorOthersNATPAC library maintains a comprehensive and regularly updated collection of IRC publications. NATPAC scientists participate in Indian Road Congress sessions and activities.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• L&T Infrastructure Engineering Limited: Large private infrastructure consultancy delivering transportation planning, DPR preparation, and engineering services across India. Comparable to NATPAC on the consultancy side, competing for the same government DPR, road safety audit, and project review work.
• AECOM India: Global infrastructure consultancy with significant India presence in transportation planning, urban mobility, and road safety studies. Comparable to NATPAC as a consultancy competitor for state-level transportation planning, traffic impact studies, and mobility plans.

Others

• Indian Road Congress (IRC): Apex professional body that sets road and bridge standards in India and where NATPAC scientists actively participate. Comparable as a transportation ecosystem standards body, not a direct competitor, but a partner that legitimizes NATPAC's research and consultancy work.

Direct peers

• CSIR - Structural Engineering Research Centre (SERC): Government R&D institution under CSIR focused on structural and infrastructure engineering research. Comparable to NATPAC as a sister CSIR/state-affiliated lab delivering applied research and consultancy to government infrastructure clients in India.
• IIT Roorkee - Centre for Transportation Systems: Academic centre with deep transportation engineering research across highway, traffic, and pavement engineering. Comparable to NATPAC in research output, doctoral training, and consultancy partnerships with state PWDs and NHAI.
• CSIR - Central Road Research Institute (CRRI): India's premier national R&D institution for roads and transportation, operating under CSIR. Directly comparable to NATPAC as a government lab doing highway engineering, traffic engineering, pavement materials, and road safety research for public-sector clients.
• IIT Madras - Transportation Engineering Division: Academic transportation division doing multi-modal research (road, rail, public transport, ITS) and offering postgraduate training. Comparable to NATPAC in research scope and in supplying trained transportation professionals to Indian state agencies.
• School of Planning and Architecture (SPA) Delhi: Premier institution offering postgraduate programs in transportation planning and urban planning, with active consultancy and applied research for government bodies. Comparable to NATPAC in producing comprehensive mobility plans, DPRs, and urban transport research for public-sector clients.

Emerging players

• IIIT Hyderabad - Smart City Research Centre: Academic centre focused on smart-city and intelligent transportation systems research, including AI-driven traffic analytics. Comparable to NATPAC's ITS Cell work and an emerging alternative for state smart-mobility research contracts.

Regional players

• National Institute of Technology Calicut - Transportation Engineering: Premier regional engineering institution in Kerala with active transportation engineering research and consultancy. Comparable to NATPAC on geography and overlapping research themes (pavement, traffic, road safety) for Kerala's PWD and municipal bodies.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/results?search_query=NATPAC
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/national-transportation-planning-and-research-centre

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about National Transportation Planning and Research Centre