India’s National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has launched a major technology-driven initiative to modernise the way the country monitors and maintains its vast road network. With artificial intelligence-powered Network Survey Vehicles (NSVs) now being deployed across 23 states, the agency aims to oversee more than 20,000 kilometres of national highways using cutting-edge digital tools. The project signifies a turning point in infrastructure management, aligning with the government’s broader goal of creating a smarter and safer highway system for Indian travellers.

Smart Monitoring on the Move

The NSVs are equipped with advanced 3D laser imaging systems, high-resolution 360-degree cameras, Differential Global Positioning Systems (DGPS), Inertial Measurement Units (IMU), and Distance Measuring Indicators (DMI). These technologies enable the vehicles to scan road conditions with remarkable precision, detecting cracks, potholes, and other surface defects in real time.​

For the first time, human reliance in road inspections is being replaced by automated visual data capture. The NSVs can traverse long stretches of national highways and feed detailed information into NHAI’s Artificial Intelligence-enabled “Data Lake” platform. The collected data is analysed by dedicated experts who convert it into actionable insights. This data-driven process allows faster and more efficient responses to road maintenance issues, effectively improving ride quality and commuter safety.​

Regular surveys conducted before and during highway construction projects, and every six months thereafter, will ensure consistent updates about road performance. This is expected to lead to better planning, more efficient budget use, and enhanced transparency in infrastructure decisions.​

Proactive Approach to Safety and Maintenance

India’s roads witness some of the world’s highest accident rates, with potholes and cracked pavements often being silent contributors. The NHAI’s move to use artificial intelligence for highway inspections represents a proactive shift from repair-based to prevention-based road management.

According to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, all collected data will be linked with the Road Asset Management System, where it will be archived according to Indian government guidelines. This system will form a permanent, digital record of the country’s highway conditions, guiding future maintenance programmes with precision rather than guesswork.​

Beyond potholes, the NSVs will also measure parameters such as road roughness, surface alignment, and structural wear. This accuracy is achieved through DGPS technology, which provides data accuracy within ten centimetres—crucial for mapping large-scale infrastructure networks. Such capabilities make India’s roads future-ready, ensuring that problems can be predicted and addressed before they grow severe.​

The NHAI has also opened bidding for qualified companies to execute these surveys, signalling a push for private participation and technological innovation in public infrastructure management.

Part of Broader AI Integration Strategy

This initiative forms part of a wider plan by NHAI to incorporate artificial intelligence in every stage of highway development. Since the formation of its dedicated AI cell in 2025, NHAI has worked on integrating digital systems to monitor project progress, ensure green construction practices, and reduce carbon footprints.​

By combining AI with geo-mapping and predictive analytics, the agency seeks to make decision-making faster and more transparent. Data collected from the NSVs will enable predictive maintenance, helping engineers identify vulnerable road sections long before visible damage occurs. In essence, India’s roads will not only be built with technology but also maintained through it.

Officials believe the integration of such advanced systems will improve both commuter experience and the efficiency of government spending. As India continues to expand its 1.45 lakh-kilometre national highway network, initiatives like this play a key role in ensuring the infrastructure keeps pace with economic and population growth.

The deployment of AI-powered NSVs marks a vital step toward achieving sustainable, intelligent, and evidence-based road management. As these high-tech survey vehicles begin to traverse the nation’s highways, Indian commuters may soon experience a smoother, safer, and more dependable road journey, powered by the precision of data and innovation.

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