India To Modernise Highway Construction With Automated And Intelligent Machine-Aided Technology—All You Need To Know

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) is set to accelerate the adoption of Automated & Intelligent Machine-Aided Construction (AIMC) technology to enhance the quality and efficiency of National Highway development.

At a stakeholder consultation workshop organised by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) in New Delhi, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari emphasised the significance of technology-driven solutions in infrastructure projects.

Speaking at the event, Gadkari stated, "National Highways are our national assets, and we have put a lot of emphasis on enhancing their quality and safety. We have taken measures to fix contractors’ responsibility to enhance the quality of construction and also to improve transparency in our system."

He highlighted that AIMC technology, successfully piloted on the Lucknow-Kanpur Expressway, would soon be implemented in other projects.

“Technology is a great enabler and adoption of Automated & Intelligent Machine-Aided Construction is a step in the right direction. We have achieved success in the Lucknow-Kanpur Expressway pilot project and soon we will implement this technology to other projects also," Gadkari said.

Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways Ajay Tamta echoed these views, underlining India's progress in building world-class roads and highways.

"Leveraging advanced technology such as sensors, satellites, and real-time monitoring will be key to accelerating progress. With continuous technological advancements, we are committed to aligning India’s road infrastructure with Vision 2047 and taking our National Highway network to a world-class level," he said.

Pilot Project on Lucknow-Kanpur Expressway

The successful implementation of AIMC technology in the Lucknow-Kanpur Expressway pilot project has demonstrated the potential of automated systems in road construction.

Advanced equipment, including GPS-aided Motor Graders, Intelligent Compactors, and Stringless Pavers, were deployed on the pilot project to ensure higher precision and efficiency.

Based on the project's evaluation, NHAI plans to expand AIMC technology to other Greenfield Expressways and Access-Controlled corridor projects.

MoRTH Secretary V Umashankar stressed that the time and quality of construction remain critical in road projects.

"Compaction is one of the critical aspects of road construction, and technology available today enables us to address the challenges related to compaction. I am sure that deliberations at this workshop will provide critical insights that will help us in adopting AIMC technology for the enhancement of National Highway construction," he said.

Draft Policy for AIMC Adoption

As part of its strategy, the Road Transport Ministry has released a draft policy for AIMC adoption, outlining its potential to transform National Highway development.

The workshop provided a platform for industry stakeholders, including technology providers, concessioners, consultants, and equipment manufacturers, to contribute suggestions toward refining this policy.

NHAI Member (Administration) Vishal Chauhan highlighted that the insights from the consultation would help transition from conventional construction methods to a data-driven, AIMC integrated approach.

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