**Executive Summary**
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is deploying AI-powered Dashcam Analytics Services (DAS) across 40,000 km of the National Highway network to automate Operations & Management (O&M). Announced on March 20, 2026, the initiative utilizes high-resolution imagery and AI/ML models to identify over 30 types of road defects through weekly surveys. The project aims to enhance road safety and ensure timely maintenance through systematic data monitoring and integration with a central platform.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Technological Framework**
* Deployment of advanced AI Powered Dashcam Analytics Services (DAS) using Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning.
* Use of specialized dashboard cameras mounted on Route Patrol Vehicles (RPVs) to capture high-resolution video and imagery.
* Development of a specialized IT platform featuring interactive visualization dashboards and AI analytics.
* Integration of AI-generated results into the central NHAI Data Lake platform for seamless monitoring.
* **Survey and Monitoring Requirements**
* Comprehensive weekly surveys to be conducted on all designated highway stretches.
* Mandatory nighttime surveys (at least once a month) to evaluate road signages, markings, studs, and lighting.
* Division of the country into five strategic zones for systematic data monitoring and management.
* **Automated Defect Identification**
* **Pavement Conditions:** Detection of potholes, rutting, and severe cracking.
* **Road Furniture:** Real-time identification of damaged or faded lane markings, crash barriers, and non-functional streetlights.
* **Safety and Encroachments:** Monitoring for illegal median openings, unauthorized signboards, and illegal parking.
* **Environmental and Structural Issues:** Identification of water stagnation, missing drainage covers, vegetation growth, and bus bay conditions.
**Impact Analysis**
**NHAI (National Highways Authority of India)**
**Impact:** Gains the ability to precisely track maintenance progress, compare road conditions over time, and implement high-tech, data-driven O&M.
**Action Required:** Establish five monitoring zones, develop the specialized IT platform, and integrate data into the central Data Lake for defect rectification.
**Route Patrol Vehicle (RPV) Operators**
**Impact:** RPVs become the primary tools for automated data collection.
**Action Required:** Conduct comprehensive weekly surveys and ensure at least one nighttime survey is completed per month.
**Maintenance and Repair Teams**
**Impact:** Receives detailed, automated reports on over 30 types of defects, allowing for more efficient planning.
**Action Required:** Utilize AI-generated insights to perform timely rectifications of identified anomalies and road defects.
**Road Users**
**Impact:** Benefit from improved road safety, better-maintained infrastructure, and an enhanced overall travel experience.
**Action Required:** No specific action mentioned in the document.
Key Entities Referenced
AI Powered Dashcam Analytics Services (DAS): An initiative to deploy advanced AI/ML-driven dashcam monitoring across 40,000 km of the National Highway network to automate road defect identification and maintenance.
National Highways Authority of India (NHAI): The primary body responsible for implementing the AI dashcam system and managing the Operations & Maintenance (O&M) of National Highways and Expressways.
NHAI Data Lake: The central digital platform where AI-generated survey results are integrated to track maintenance progress and ensure timely rectification of highway anomalies.
Ministry of Road Transport & Highways: The overseeing ministry responsible for the policy direction and transformation of National Highway management through high-tech interventions.
Route Patrol Vehicles (RPVs): The specialized vehicles equipped with high-resolution dashboard cameras used to conduct weekly surveys for road condition assessment.
Ministry of Road Transport & Highways
NHAI to Introduce AI Powered Dashcam
Monitoring System for National Highway
Operations &Management
Specialized dashboard cameras mountedon Route Patrol
Vehicles (RPVs) to conduct weekly surveys on the National
Highway stretches
Posted On: 20 MAR 2026 4:58PM by PIB Delhi
Taking a significant step towards transforming Operations & Management of National Highways, NHAI
will deploy advanced AI Powered Dashcam Analytics Services (DAS)on around 40,000 km of the
National Highway network. This initiative leverages Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning
(ML) to enhance use of high-tech, data-driven Operations & Maintenance (O&M) for the National
Highways and Expressways across the country.
The project aims to enhance remote tracking and road condition assessments using high-resolution
imagery and video data. Specialized dashboard cameras will be mounted on Route Patrol Vehicles (RPVs)
to conduct weekly surveys on all the stretches comprehensively. Advanced AI/ML trained models shall be
deployed for identification of over 30 types of defects and anomalies automatically.
The major focus will be on Pavement condition which includes detection of potholes, rutting, and severe
cracking. The adopted method will also cover Road Furniture incorporating Real-time identification of
damaged or faded lane markings, crash barriers and non-functional streetlights. Special focus will be on
Safety & Encroachments through monitoring for illegal median openings, unauthorized signboards, and
illegal parking or encroachments.
To further enhance road safety, at least one weekly survey will also be conducted during nighttimein a
month for performance evaluation of road signages, pavement markings,road studs and highway lighting.
Other critical maintenance issues like water stagnation, missing drainage covers, vegetation growth and
condition of bus bays shall also be covered.
For effective monitoring of the reports, five zones have been strategically created across the country to
ensure systematic data monitoring. A specialized IT platform featuring dedicated modules for data
management, AI analytics and interactive visualization dashboards shall be developed dedicatedly for this
purpose. The solution also allows for side-by-side comparisons of road conditions over time, enabling
NHAI to precisely track maintenance progress and repair efficiently. The AI generated results shall also be
integrated to central NHAI Data Lake platform for seamless monitoring and ensuring timely rectification
of defects.
The initiative marks a significant step towards technology-driven and efficient Operations & Management
of National Highways. Leveraging AI powered dashcam monitoring will enable timely maintenance,
improve road safety and enhance overall user experience across the National Highway network.*****
GDH/HJ
(Release ID: 2243028) Visitor Counter : 335
Read this release in: Urdu , ही