Road Ministry, Isro partner to monitor highways

 Ministry of Road Transport would join forces with the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) and the North East Centre for Technology Application and Research (NECTAR) to monitor national highways across the country.

The satellite data and geospatial technology will help the National Highways Authority of India in preparing detailed project reports of highway and infrastructure projects, determining pre-feasibility status in new road alignments, widening roads, monitoring road segments under construction and road asset management.

“The NHAI has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) under the ISRO and the NECTAR for use of spatial technology for monitoring and managing national highways,” the Road, Transport and Highways Ministry said in a release.

“The NHAI will take up some pilot projects with both the organisations to identify and finalise actual use and benefits of both satellite data and spatial technology and un manned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology in highway and infrastructure sector,” the release added. A 24x7 technical cell would also be set up to provide project-specific data using the technology to project report Consultants, Engineers, staff and users, it said.