The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has made Automated and Intelligent Machine-Aided Construction (AI-MC) mandatory for highway projects exceeding 20 km in length and ₹500 crore in cost, in a move aimed at improving construction quality and strengthening project oversight.
Under the new directive, contractors will be required to deploy AI-MC technology throughout the entire project, from the initial stages of road construction to completion. The system will be used across critical highway layers, including embankments, subgrade and the Granular Sub-Base (GSB).
AI-MC integrates on-board computers and sensors with construction equipment such as graders, pavers, compactors and dozers. The technology enables real-time monitoring and execution, helping improve accuracy, consistency, durability and transparency while reducing dependence on manual quality checks.
NHAI officials said the system is also expected to minimise human errors and create digital records of construction activities at different stages. Contractors will have to share real-time project data with NHAI, allowing authorities to monitor execution more closely and discourage deviations from prescribed standards.
Although AI-MC was previously introduced on projects such as the Lucknow-Kanpur Expressway, its deployment was not uniform across the entire stretch. The latest mandate seeks to ensure end-to-end and consistent adoption across qualifying highway projects.
