In what can be seen as a major milestone towards a tech-driven road management system, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is set to launch an advanced AI-powered dashcam monitoring system across
40,000 km of national highways.
The initiative aims to improve maintenance efficiency and enhance safety standards using automated surveillance tools across the country.
What Is NHAI’s AI Dashcam Monitoring System?
The Dashcam Analytic Services (DAS) leverages Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) to evaluate highway conditions in real time. As part of this initiative, high-resolution dashboard cameras will be installed on Route Patrol Vehicles (RPVs) to continuously monitor highway stretches.
The cameras are designed to capture a steady stream of video and image data, which is then processed using AI-driven models. The system can automatically detect over 30 types of road defects, enabling quicker identification of issues and more efficient maintenance response.
The AI-driven system will focus on pavement conditions, including potholes, cracks, and surface wear. Moreover, it will also assess road infrastructure, including streetlights, lane markings and more.
To strengthen safety checks, NHAI will also conduct night-time surveys at regular hiatus.
Road Safety Remains A Concern
Road safety remains a major concern in India, given the number of fatalities every year. According to an official data, potholes claimed 9,438 lives over five years, between 2020 and 2024.
Uttar Pradesh alone reported 5,127 of these fatalities. As per the data, Madhya Pradesh witnessed second-highest pothole-related deaths at 969 in these five years, followed by Tamil Nadu (612), Odisha (425), Punjab (414) and Assam (395).
