The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) this week ruled that all highway construction projects must carry out monthly drone surveys during all stages.
Contractors and concessionaires will have to upload video recordings of the surveys to the NHAI’s portal, where they will be used to check against submitted reports, and as evidence in disputes.
Separately, the NHAI has mandated the use of Network Survey Vehicles equipped with 360-degree cameras, laser road profilometers and other technology to measure road surfaces.
The Authority said "sharp focus on quality, technology and transparency" would boost quality and the timely completion of national highway projects.
The initiatives come as highway construction exceeded the current fiscal year’s target of 30km of new road built a day, with ambitions to hit 40km/day by the end of the year, The Financial Express reports. Â
The newspaper said investor interest in public-private partnership (PPP) schemes is showing signs of recovery.
Image:Â India’s National Highway No. 1 near Jammu (Courtesy of the National Highways Authority of India)
