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India鈥檚 infrastructure boom is not only about laying more kilometres of highways鈥攊t鈥檚 about building them smarter, safer and more sustainably. From drones mapping fragile Himalayan slopes to 3D machine-controlled graders reducing human error, technology is steadily reshaping the way projects are planned and executed. Yet, the journey towards digitisation remains complex, demanding not just capital but also coordination, training and vision.

Until recently, engineers largely depended on Survey of India toposheets and traditional survey methods like total stations or DGPS to prepare Detailed Project Reports (DPRs). Today, drones and LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) have changed the equation.

鈥淎lmost 90 per cent of road projects in India now rely on LiDAR data,鈥� explained Dr Shrikant Gabale, Managing Director, Graphias Solutions. 鈥淓arlier, feasibility studies were about identifying broad alignments. Now, we demand precision鈥攈ydrological analysis, seismic details, and drainage lines. With LiDAR and drones, we can model terrain down to two centimetres of accuracy.鈥�

In Himachal Pradesh, for example, his team mapped over 200 km of rugged terrain. 鈥淭he data not only helped with road alignment but also provided critical insights into landslide-prone zones,鈥� Dr Gabale noted. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 invaluable for future disaster management.鈥�

The benefits extend beyond accuracy. LiDAR surveys save time and money compared to traditional methods, particularly in challenging geographies. But challenges remain: cost pressures often tempt contractors to compromise on data quality. As Gabale cautioned, 鈥淚f you want precision in your DPR, you cannot cut corners on technology.鈥�

Machines that Think in 3D

Technology is also transforming execution on the ground. A recent government mandate requires contractors to adopt 3D machine-control technology on highway projects.

鈥淭his converts design data into machine language, directly guiding graders, dozers and compactors,鈥� explained Ratan Lal Kashyap, President 鈥� Supply Chain Management, Dinesh Chandra R Agrawal Infracon (DRAIPL). 鈥淭he result is better accuracy, layer-by-layer compaction, and significant savings. For instance, if you need to lay 100 mm, you don鈥檛 end up overspending by laying 110 mm across 200 kilometres.鈥�

Kashyap highlighted the transparency such systems bring: 鈥淎ll design and execution data flows to a central repository monitored by the ministry. Quality can be verified remotely, without manual subjectivity.鈥�

But adoption has not been seamless. The upfront cost of fitting machines with GNSS-based 3D systems can be steep鈥攗p to 30鈥�40 percent of a grader鈥檚 cost. Training skilled operators is another hurdle. 鈥淢any contractors overlooked these costs during bidding,鈥� Kashyap observed. 鈥淏ut those who鈥檝e piloted it are convinced鈥攊t pays back many times over in efficiency and long-term durability.鈥�

From Data Silos to Connected Insights

Beyond surveys and execution, technology is also redefining project monitoring. Ravi Kiran Naalla, COO, Inncircles, emphasised the shift toward connected, AI-enabled systems:

鈥淭he construction sector has been slow to adopt digital transformation. Too often, tools are used in silos, acting as mere data repositories. What鈥檚 missing is a connected enterprise view鈥攚here design, execution and monitoring systems talk to each other.鈥�

According to Naalla, resistance comes from ground staff perceiving new tools as burdensome. 鈥淚f a site engineer feels data entry is an overhead, adoption will fail. The solution is user-friendly interfaces, automation via IoT and AI, and strong change management. These tools should be seen as enablers, not audits.鈥�

Gati Shakti: The Bigger Picture

While individual technologies improve project delivery, India鈥檚 broader ambition lies in integration. The government鈥檚 Gati Shakti initiative aims to synchronise infrastructure planning across sectors鈥攔oads, ports, railways, airports and logistics.

鈥淕ati Shakti is the only way to align infrastructure at a massive scale,鈥� said Dr. Sharmila Amin, Managing Director 鈥� South Asia, Bertling Logistics India. 鈥淚t integrates 39 digital platforms across 19 ministries. Customs, e-way bills, even heavy cargo permissions are now digital. But the challenge is state-level alignment. A national permit doesn鈥檛 automatically work within states, and that slows down progress.鈥�

She pointed to Andhra Pradesh as an example of forward momentum. 鈥淭he state is discussing inland waterways on the Krishna and Godavari rivers to move cargo more cost-effectively. Even drones for moving 300-ton cargo internally are being considered. But unless states align with each other and with the Centre, the full benefits of Gati Shakti won鈥檛 be realised.鈥�

Rajesh Kumar, Operations Manager, Aeroscan Technology, agreed: 鈥淎t present, the initiative is only about 20 percent realised. Departments need far better coordination, and technology implementation is still in its early stage. But it鈥檚 the right direction.鈥�

The common thread across all perspectives was clear鈥攖echnology is no longer optional; it is foundational to India鈥檚 infrastructure future. But as Ashutosh Kapoor, Partner, KPMG India, summed up: 鈥淭he upfront cost of technology is only minuscule compared to its long-term benefits. It brings accountability, transparency, and quality鈥攅ssential for projects funded by taxpayers鈥� money. The key is to view digital adoption not in isolation, but as part of a connected enterprise strategy, backed by capability enhancement at every level.鈥�

Ashutosh Kapoor, Partner, KPMG India, summed up: 鈥淭he upfront cost of technology is only minuscule compared to its long-term benefits. It brings accountability, transparency, and quality鈥攅ssential for projects funded by taxpayers鈥� money. The key is to view digital adoption not in isolation, but as part of a connected enterprise strategy, backed by capability enhancement at every level.鈥�

Road Ahead

India is building more roads than ever before, but the challenge is not just expansion鈥攊t is smarter, integrated growth. Drones, LiDAR, 3D machine guidance, AI-based project management and platforms like Gati Shakti together promise a future where infrastructure is not only faster to build but also safer, more resilient and more cost-effective.

The transition is underway. The question now is not whether India will adopt these technologies, but how quickly鈥攁nd how well鈥攊t can scale them across its vast and varied terrain.