The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has deployed advanced Network Survey Vehicles (NSVs) equipped with 3D laser-based technology across National Highway corridors in India. The initiative aims to revolutionise highway maintenance by enabling faster detection of road defects and ensuring timely repairs through a technology-driven monitoring system.
Equipped with laser profilers, GPS systems, high-resolution cameras and advanced imaging sensors, the NSVs can scan road surfaces for cracks, potholes, patches and unevenness while creating detailed digital maps of highways. The data collected helps authorities assess road conditions in real time and take corrective action before defects become serious safety hazards.
According to the ministry, the adoption of 3D laser technology reflects the government’s commitment to using innovation for public welfare. What once took months to survey and analyse can now be accomplished within days, resulting in quicker identification of defects, faster rectification and improved transparency in highway management.
One of the key advantages of the new system is its efficiency. While traditional surveys could cover only 20 to 80 kilometres in a day, the advanced NSVs can survey up to 300 kilometres daily. The collected data is encrypted and transmitted to a centralised NSV centre within 48 hours, where expert teams deployed across five zones analyse and monitor the findings.
The ministry said actionable reports are generated within 10 days, a significant improvement over the earlier process, which often took four to six months. Every report undergoes a rigorous quality assurance process before being digitally shared with stakeholders, ensuring seamless communication and eliminating human intervention.
The survey data is also integrated with the National Highways Authority of India’s AI-based Data Lake portal, enabling expert teams to conduct rapid analysis and implement evidence-based maintenance decisions. The surveys will be conducted every six months across two-lane to eight-lane National Highways, including freight corridors, high-traffic routes and weather-sensitive regions.
To further strengthen accountability, MoRTH has introduced a mobile application that allows site inspectors to view survey findings in real time, upload geo-tagged photographs, post comments and track rectification work directly from the field.
Unlike earlier systems that focused primarily on monitoring, the new framework ensures that road maintenance agencies remain accountable until all reported defects are fully rectified. Officials believe the proactive approach will help reduce accidents caused by road defects while delivering smoother and safer travel experiences for millions of commuters.
According to the ministry, the initiative marks a significant shift towards data-driven infrastructure management, digital governance and sustainable maintenance of India’s expanding National Highway network.
