NHAI to Deploy AI-Powered Dashcam System for Real-Time Highway Monitoring
New Delhi, March 21 (BNP): The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) will roll out an AI-powered dashcam monitoring system across nearly 40,000 km of the National Highway network to enhance operations, maintenance, and road safety.
The initiative will use advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) technologies to enable data-driven monitoring of highways and expressways. Specialised dashboard cameras will be installed on Route Patrol Vehicles (RPVs), which will conduct weekly surveys across highway stretches.
Officials said the system will use high-resolution imagery and video data to automatically detect over 30 types of road defects and anomalies. These include pavement-related issues such as potholes, rutting, and cracks, as well as problems with road infrastructure like damaged lane markings, faulty crash barriers, and non-functional streetlights.
The system will also monitor safety concerns and encroachments, including illegal median openings, unauthorised signboards, and improper parking along highways. Night-time surveys will be conducted periodically to assess visibility of road signs, pavement markings, lighting, and reflectors.
In addition, the AI-based solution will track issues such as waterlogging, vegetation growth, and drainage problems, enabling timely intervention and maintenance.
To streamline monitoring, NHAI has divided the network into five zones and will deploy a dedicated IT platform with analytics dashboards and data visualisation tools. The platform will allow comparison of road conditions over time and integrate findings into the central data system for efficient decision-making.
Officials said the move marks a major step towards technology-driven highway management, aimed at improving maintenance efficiency, enhancing road safety, and providing a better travel experience for users across the country.
