Parliament Question: Network Survey Vehicles

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO - 594 ANSWERED ON - 04/02/2026 NETWORK SURVEY VEHICLES 594. SHRI S. SELVAGANABATHY: Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS be pleased to state: (a) the scope and objectives of deploying Network Survey Vehicles (NSVs) across National Highways; (b) the stretches and States currently covered; (c) the types of pavement condition and road inventory data being collected through NSVs and the frequency at which such surveys are conducted; (d) the process through which NSV-collected data is analysed on NHAI’s AI-based Data Lake platform; and (e) the manner in which data is used for maintenance planning? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS (SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI) (a) Network Survey Vehicles (NSVs) are deployed to collect data for highway asset Inventorisation and pavement condition monitoring of National Highways & Expressways. Network Survey Vehicle based data is used to assess the condition of the pavement for planning the maintenance requirements. Based on the results of these surveys/ tests, necessary repair and maintenance activities are carried out by the field units through respective Contractors/ Concessionaires as per the provisions of Contract Agreement. (b) Network Survey Vehicles (NSVs) are deployed on National Highways & Expressways covering most of the States within the country. Further, under Phase-III, the NSVs shall be deployed across 23 States of the country covering a distance of approx. 21000 Km.(c) The major pavement surface distresses observed during NSV Surveys are Roughness, Rutting, Cracking, Potholes and Ravelling. The Operation & Maintenance of National Highways is a continuous process and to assess the condition of Highway stretch, NSV surveys on NHs are carried out periodically as per guidelines issued from time to time. As a general practice, NSV surveys are done at following three stages: i. Before the start of the highway developmental work, ii. At the time of completion of work, and iii. At an interval of every six months during Operation & Maintenance phase. (d) & (e) Data Lake Platform is used for notifying the defects to Contractor/ Concessionaire identified through NSV surveys for necessary rectification. Automated Notices are generated & issued through the portal. Further, the action taken by Contractor/ Concessionaire for the rectification of these defects within specified timelines as per Contract Agreement are monitored through Data Lake. The data collected for highway asset inventorisation and pavement condition through Network Survey Vehicle are uploaded on Road Asset Management System (RAMS) for planning and budgeting purposes. *****