Traffic Engineering Course | NPTEL IIT Kharagpur | Prof. Bhargab Maitra
Course Details
| Exam Registration | 268 |
|---|---|
| Course Status | Ongoing |
| Course Type | Core |
| Language | English |
| Duration | 12 weeks |
| Categories | Civil Engineering |
| Credit Points | 3 |
| Level | Postgraduate |
| Start Date | 19 Jan 2026 |
| End Date | 10 Apr 2026 |
| Enrollment Ends | 02 Feb 2026 |
| Exam Registration Ends | 20 Feb 2026 |
| Exam Date | 25 Apr 2026 IST |
| NCrF Level | 4.5 — 8.0 |
Master Traffic Engineering: A Comprehensive 12-Week NPTEL Course by IIT Kharagpur
Traffic congestion is the defining urban challenge of our time, especially in rapidly developing nations like India. It leads to lost productivity, increased accidents, fuel wastage, and environmental pollution, directly hindering sustainable urban growth. To equip the next generation of engineers and planners with the tools to tackle this crisis, the prestigious National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning (NPTEL) offers a detailed course on Traffic Engineering, presented by a leading expert from Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur.
About the Course Instructor: Prof. Bhargab Maitra
The course is led by Prof. Bhargab Maitra, a distinguished professor in the Civil Engineering Department at IIT Kharagpur. With an M.Tech from IIT Kanpur and a Ph.D. from IIT Bombay, both specializing in Transportation Engineering, Prof. Maitra brings immense academic and research expertise. His accolades include being an Alexander von Humboldt Fellow and a DAAD Fellow, and he is a recipient of the Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru Birth Centenary Award from the Indian Roads Congress.
With nearly 150 publications and numerous sponsored projects in traffic congestion, public transit, and travel behavior, Prof. Maitra ensures the course content is both theoretically robust and practically relevant.
Course Overview and Objectives
This 12-week postgraduate-level course is designed for in-depth capacity building. It aims to help students, policymakers, and practitioners understand the multifaceted role of a traffic engineer and develop effective strategies and projects. The curriculum moves from fundamental concepts to advanced applications in traffic management and safety.
Who Should Enroll?
- Intended Audience: M.E./M.Tech students specializing in Transportation Engineering, Civil Engineering, or equivalent fields.
- Prerequisite: A B.E./B.Tech degree in Civil Engineering, Transportation Engineering, Construction Engineering, or a related discipline.
- Industry Support: As a core subject in premier institutions like IITs and NITs, this course is highly recognized by companies and consultancies in the infrastructure and transportation sectors.
Detailed 12-Week Course Layout
The course is systematically divided into nine comprehensive modules, covered over twelve weeks.
| Week | Module & Topics |
|---|---|
| Week 1 | Module A: Traffic Components and Characteristics |
| Week 2 | Module B: Traffic Stream Parameters and their Relationships |
| Week 3 | Module C: Shockwave and Queuing Analysis |
| Week 4 | Module D: Capacity and Level of Service (U.S. HCM-2016) |
| Week 5 | Module D: Capacity and Level of Service (Indo-HCM-2016) |
| Week 6 | Module E: Traffic Control at Intersections |
| Week 7 | Module E: Traffic Control at Intersections (Continued) |
| Week 8 | Module E: Traffic Control at Intersections (Continued) |
| Week 9 | Module F: Car Following Models and Traffic Simulation |
| Week 10 | Module G: Traffic Control and Management |
| Week 11 | Module H: Parking Management |
| Week 12 | Module I: Traffic Safety Principles |
Key Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
- Analyze fundamental traffic stream characteristics and parameters.
- Apply shockwave theory to understand congestion propagation.
- Evaluate road capacity and Level of Service (LOS) using both U.S. and Indian Highway Capacity Manuals.
- Design and critique traffic control measures at intersections.
- Understand car-following models and the basics of traffic simulation.
- Formulate strategies for integrated traffic management, parking, and safety.
Recommended Textbooks and References
The course draws from authoritative texts, including:
- Traffic Engineering by Roess, Prassas, and McShane (2019)
- Traffic Flow Fundamentals by Adolf D. May
- Traffic and Highway Engineering by Garber and Hoel
- Principles of Transportation Engineering by Chakroborty and Das
- The official Indian Highway Capacity Manual (Indo-HCM, 2017)
Why Enroll in This NPTEL Course?
This course offers a rare opportunity to learn Traffic Engineering from a premier IIT professor at no cost. It provides a structured, academic approach to solving real-world urban mobility problems. Whether you are a student seeking to strengthen your foundation, a professional aiming to upskill, or a policymaker looking for evidence-based insights, this course is an invaluable resource. Enroll today to contribute to building smarter, safer, and more efficient transportation systems for the future.
Enroll Now →