India’s infrastructure boom is not only about laying more kilometres of highways – it’s 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.“Almost 90 per cent of road projects in India now rely on LiDAR data,” explains Dr Shrikant Gabale, Managing Director, Graphias Solutions. “Earlier, feasibility studies were about identifying broad alignments. Now, we demand precision – hydrological analysis, seismic details and drainage lines. With LiDAR and drones, we can model terrain down to two centimetres of accuracy.”In Himachal Pradesh, for example, his team mapped over 200 km of rugged terrain. “The data not only helped with road alignment but also provided critical insights into landslide-prone zones,” Dr Gabale notes. “That’s invaluable for future disaster management.”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 cautions, “If you want precision in your DPR, you cannot cut corners on technology.”Machines that think in 3DTechnology is also transforming execution on the ground. A recent government mandate requires contractors to adopt 3D machine-control technology on highway projects.“This converts design data into machine language, directly guiding graders, dozers and compactors,” explains Ratan Lal Kashyap, President - Supply Chain Management, Dinesh Chandra R Agrawal Infracon (DRAIPL). “The result is better accuracy, layer-by-layer compaction and significant savings. For instance, if you need to lay 100 mm, you don’t end up overspending by laying 110 mm across 200 km.”He highlights the transparency such systems bring: “All design and execution data flows to a central repository monitored by the ministry. Quality can be verified remotely, without manual subjectivity.”But adoption has not been seamless. The upfront cost of fitting machines with GNSS-based 3D systems can be steep – up to 30-40 per cent of a grader’s cost. Training skilled operators is another hurdle. “Many contractors overlooked these costs during bidding,” Kashyap observes. “But those who’ve piloted it are convinced – it pays back many times over in efficiency and long-term durability.”From data silos to connected insightsBeyond surveys and execution, technology is also redefining project monitoring. Ravi Kiran Naalla, COO, Inncircles, emphasises the shift toward connected, AI-enabled systems, saying, “The construction sector has been slow to adopt digital transformation. Too often, tools are used in silos, acting as mere data repositories. What’s missing is a connected enterprise view, where design, execution and monitoring systems talk to each other.”According to him, resistance comes from ground staff perceiving new tools as burdensome. “If 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.”Gati Shakti: The bigger pictureWhile individual technologies improve project delivery, India’s broader ambition lies in integration. The Government’s Gati Shakti initiative aims to synchronise infrastructure planning across sectors – roads, ports, railways, airports and logistics.“Gati Shakti is the only way to align infrastructure at a massive scale,” says Dr. Sharmila Amin, Managing Director - South Asia, Bertling Logistics India. “It 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’t automatically work within states and that slows down progress.”She points to Andhra Pradesh as an example of forward momentum. “The state is discussing inland waterways on the Krishna and Godavari rivers to move cargo more cost-effectively. Even drones for moving 300-tonne cargo internally are being considered. But unless states align with each other and with the Centre, the full benefits of Gati Shakti won’t be realised.”Rajesh Kumar, Operations Manager, Aeroscan Technology, agrees: “At present, the initiative is only about 20 per cent realised. Departments need far better coordination and technology implementation is still in its early stage. But it’s the right direction.”The common thread across all perspectives is clear: technology is no longer optional; it is foundational to India’s infrastructure future. And as Ashutosh Kapoor, Partner, KPMG India, says, “The upfront cost of technology is only minuscule compared to its long-term benefits. It brings accountability, transparency, and quality – essential for projects funded by taxpayers’ 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.”The road aheadIndia is building more roads than ever before, but the challenge is not just expansion; it 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 – and how well – it can scale them across its vast and varied terrain.QuotesWith LiDAR and drones, we can model terrain down to two centimetres of accuracy. - Dr Shrikant Gabale, Managing Director, Graphias SolutionsAll design and execution data flows to a central repository monitored by the ministry. - Ratan Lal Kashyap, President - Supply Chain Management, Dinesh Chandra R Agrawal Infracon (DRAIPL)The construction sector has been slow to adopt digital transformation. - Ravi Kiran Naalla, COO, InncirclesGati Shakti is the only way to align infrastructure at a massive scale. - Dr. Sharmila Amin, Managing Director - South Asia, Bertling Logistics IndiaTechnology brings accountability, transparency, and quality – essential for projects funded by taxpayers’ money. - Ashutosh Kapoor, Partner, KPMG IndiaTechnology implementation is still in its early stage. But it’s the right direction. -  Rajesh Kumar, Operations Manager, Aeroscan Technology