{
  "id": 4585792,
  "title": "NHAI’s new rule to ensure top-quality highways",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/nhais-new-rule-to-ensure-top-quality-highways",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-08-31T05:56:15.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Economic Times",
    "slug": "the-economic-times",
    "url": "https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/transportation/roadways/nhais-new-ai-rule-for-pothole-free-top-quality-highways-how-projects-above-rs-500-crore-will-now-have-to-use-ai-powered-machines-to-prevent-quality-shortcuts/articleshow/133643029.cms"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has implemented a new rule mandating the use of Automated and Intelligent Machine-Aided Construction (AI-MC) technology for all highway projects exceeding 20 km in length and costing more than Rs 500 crore, as part of efforts to address ongoing quality issues in government-funded projects. According to an NHAI circular, contractors are now required to utilize the AI-MC system throughout each stage of road construction, encompassing the embankment, subgrade, and Granular Sub-Base (GSB), the initial layer of crushed stone, sand, and gravel. This technology, which integrates on-board computers and sensors within heavy machinery like graders, pavers, compactors, and dozers, aims to enhance the quality, durability, and transparency of highway construction by replacing manual monitoring with real-time, data-driven execution and quality control. Launched initially on the Lucknow-Kanpur Expressway, the new rule seeks to close the gap between pilot projects and full-scale implementation by enforcing continuous, sensor-driven quality checks, thereby minimizing human error, promoting uniform construction standards, and generating comprehensive digital records of every construction phase. By compelling contractors to share real-time data with NHAI officials, the mandate intends to mitigate the potential for substandard practices and increase accountability throughout the highway construction sector.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}