New Delhi: The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has significantly tightened its framework for Automated and Intelligent Machine-Aided Construction (AI-MC), introducing provisions that could directly affect contractor payments, equipment deployment and digital ownership of highway project data.

Under Policy Circular No. 11.109/2026 dated August 28, 2026, mandatory AI-MC deployment has been rationalised to highway projects with a continuous length exceeding 20 km and an EPC/civil construction cost above Rs 5 billion. Standalone bridges, ROBs, tunnels, short bypasses below 10 km and strengthening/overlay projects where base earthwork is not reconstructed are exempt; adoption below the thresholds remains optional.

However, the more significant provisions lie in the enforcement mechanism.

For embankment, subgrade and GSB construction, contractors must deploy AI-MC across all grades. For WMM and subsequent bituminous layers, motor graders have effectively been barred, with layers required to be laid using UTS-guided 3D smart pavers. Contractors must also develop a comprehensive 3D digital model from the lowest embankment layer through every intermediate layer and lift. Piecemeal or selective AI-MC deployment will be considered non-compliant and could trigger a change of scope/reduction in scope under the relevant EPC or HAM contract provisions.

Perhaps the strongest commercial provision is the new digital payment gate. Contractors will have to provide secure cloud access to the Independent Engineer, Project Director and Regional Officer, enabling daily telemetry records to be cross-verified against Requests for Inspection. Manual override, signal loss or omission of telemetry during machine operation will be flagged as a critical non-conformity, and unmapped stretches will not qualify for interim or milestone payments.

The circular also mandates a 200-m trial stretch before full-scale earthwork, daily calibration of GNSS/UTS-based systems, and immediate suspension of equipment where field verification reveals deviations beyond permissible staking tolerances. Contractors must provide independent survey hardware to NHAI engineers for spot checks.

Another potentially far-reaching clause requires contractors to hand over raw data, 3D constructible models, detailed calculations, Design Basis Reports and native highway-design files within seven days of request, without additional cost. A fully audited Digital As-Built Model of Record, including utilities and asset locations, will also have to be submitted at completion.

The amendments apply immediately to upcoming projects meeting the prescribed thresholds.