As India accelerates highway construction, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways MoRTH has launched a technology-driven quality monitoring initiative aimed at ensuring that roads are built to higher safety and durability standards.
The Ministry has rolled out a pilot project using Mobile Quality Control Vans MQCVs to closely monitor construction quality on National Highways.
The pilot has been implemented in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Karnataka and Odisha.
Each Mobile Quality Control Van functions as a fully equipped on-the-move laboratory, enabling on-site and non-destructive testing of ongoing highway works.
The vans are fitted with instruments such as ultrasonic pulse velocity meters, rebound hammers, asphalt density gauges, light-weight deflectometers and reflectometers.
Rebound hammers are used to assess surface hardness and estimate the strength of hardened concrete structures.
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Ultrasonic pulse velocity meters help detect hidden cracks, voids and internal inconsistencies in concrete.
Asphalt density gauges enable quick, non-nuclear testing to verify proper asphalt compaction and pavement longevity while light-weight deflectometers assess the density of compacted soil and granular sub-base to ensure stable base for long-lasting highways.
Reflectometers are deployed to evaluate the visibility of road signs and markings for motorists during both day and night conditions.
Test results generated by the vans will be shared with field offices, which will take corrective action in case quality deficiencies are detected, according to the ministry.
To strengthen oversight, MoRTH is also developing a National Highway Quality Monitoring Portal.
The portal will host test reports online and provide real-time GPS tracking of the mobile vans, allowing transparent and data-driven monitoring of quality checks across the highway network.
Following the initial rollout in four states, the next phase of the programme has been planned across 11 additional states: Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Assam and Meghalaya, the ministry said.
Tenders for this phase have already been invited, and the expanded deployment is expected to be commissioned by June 2026, according to the ministry.
