As per the latest report of the Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation, of the 1,737 projects of over Rs 1.5 billion that it monitored, 470 reported cost overrun of over Rs 4.4 trillion till April 2021 and 525 projects reported time overrun. The Ministry has attributed the time overrun to a host of issues, including “delay in land acquisition, forest or environment clearance, lack of infrastructure support and linkages, supply of equipment, fund constraints, geological surprises, change in scope, delay in tendering, shortage of labour, contractual issues, state-wise lockdown due to COVID-19, legal cases and the law and order situation.” Expenditure incurred on the 1,737 projects till April 2021 is around Rs.13.2 trillion, which is 49.3 per cent of the anticipated cost of the projects. So, having spent half the cost, we have incurred an overrun of 16 per cent. Technology can make construction precise and timely. It can help plan well and save wastage. There is a need for cost control, which means wastage has to be curbed. Timeliness is also being rewarded in infra projects with bonuses and in realty projects by avoiding penalties. NITI Aayog has recommended the use of building information modelling (BIM), estimating a 20 per cent saving with it. According to an Autodesk IDC report released in August 2020, 66 per cent of construction companies say digital transformation is a key priority to drive much-needed changes to processes, business models and ecosystems. While over 70 per cent of construction companies in India are only starting their digital transformation journeys, large infrastructure projects have already embraced this technology at an advanced stage.Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has implemented a custom-made software to monitor the progress of its Phase 4 corridors and the Patna Metro as part of a major initiative to digitalise operations. The Integrated Project Management Software (IPMS) enables integration of other construction-related software such as Primavera schedules for project planning and 3D BIM and a mobile app through which progress at site on a real-time basis can be uploaded.Maha Metro is the first organisation in the country to implement 5D BIM project visualisation. For the uninitiated, this is a digital project management concept that integrates many software seamlessly and employs five-dimensional BIM to accurately predict outcomes and timelines. This unique system has enabled Maha Metro to tightly control quality, cost and time. Nagpur Metro has achieved a saving of 10 per cent over the estimated cost in the DPR using technology. Maha Metro has geared up to replicate the 5D-BIM benefits in the Pune Metro project as well.The contractor for the structural steel framework of the Statue of Unity extensively relied upon Tekla Structures' truly constructible technology to complete the statue in a record 33 months, a full two months ahead of schedule—the project holds the distinction of being among the fastest to be completed. Even the Samruddhi Expressway, the 701-km project that connects Mumbai and Nagpur, used BIM services for virtual monitoring of on-site construction activities. It has also used 4D simulation services to assess accurate quantities and for cost estimation.These technologies are more cost-effective when there is scale. Even prefab and precast technologies don’t deliver results for small projects. Given that there is momentum in the construction of our road network, standard elements can use the advantages of precast. When it comes to investment in BIM-based software, 47 per cent of construction companies in India claim they have already invested in BIM-based workflows. These are mostly used by private companies and utilised for overseas clients. So the awareness exists but it can only be deployed when developers assume the onus. And when the developer’s risk runs into high values, it becomes logical.Tune into our pre-CWAB webinars on August 6, 13 and 18 followed by the 16th CWAB Awards on 20 August and meet India’s Top Architects and Builders! (See page …for registration)