The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH) has announced the nationwide deployment of Network Survey Vehicles (NSVs) equipped with advanced 3D laser-based systems across all states to monitor and maintain India's National Highways. These vehicles use laser profilers, GPS, and high-resolution imaging technology to scan road surfaces for defects including cracks, potholes, and unevenness, creating digital maps of highway conditions.
The NSV system represents a significant efficiency improvement, covering up to 300 km of highway daily compared to the previous survey capacity of 20-80 km per day. The data collection and processing timeline has been dramatically reduced from 4-6 months to just 10 days through a structured three-step process: raw encrypted survey data is transmitted to a centralized NSV center within 48 hours; expert teams across five zones monitor and report findings; and data is transformed into actionable insights within 10 days.
All collected data is uploaded to NHAI's AI-based Data Lake portal for analysis, and the system includes rigorous quality assurance with expert validation before reports are accepted. Notices are issued digitally and automatically to stakeholders through digital platforms without human intervention. The surveys will cover two-to eight-lane National highways at regular six-month intervals, including diverse terrains such as freight corridors, traffic-heavy stretches, and weather-prone regions.
A newly developed mobile app enables site inspectors to view NSV findings in real time, post comments and geo-stamped photos during inspections, and track rectifications directly on site. Unlike previous systems, the new framework ensures the process only concludes after defects are fully rectified, with road maintenance agencies held accountable until every reported issue is 100% resolved. This initiative aims to reduce accidents linked to road defects and ensure smoother, safer journeys through proactive, data-driven highway maintenance.