To make Ganga Expressway a world-class infrastructure project, the Uttar Pradesh government is employing an advanced Swiss technology.
An agreement has been signed with ETH Zurich University and RTDT Laboratories AG in Switzerland to implement artificial intelligence (AI) and sensor-based systems for monitoring its quality and comfort quotient.
This technology can detect and fix road defects during the construction phase itself. After successful implementation on Ganga Expressway, the Yogi Adityanath government plans to extend it to the Gorakhpur Link Expressway too.
594-km Ganga Expressway will connect 12 districts from Meerut to Prayagraj, and is proposed to be extended to Ballia in the future, making it the longest expressway in India.
Shrihari Pratap Shahi, Additional CEO, UP Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA), said the Swiss technology is being used to ensure the riding quality and comfort of Ganga Expressway.
A vehicle, equipped with vibration technology and seven accelerometer sensors (four for quality and three for comfort), is inspecting all six lanes.
The vehicle collects data on the road surface, comfort level, and elevation variations, which can be viewed in real-time through online graphs.
The sensor-based devices and data collection equipment conduct real-time analysis of road quality. This technology can instantly identify which parts of the road do not meet the required standards.
Addressing such issues during construction reduces future maintenance costs and challenges.
Previously, road quality checks were done after construction was completed, making it difficult to fix manufacturing defects.
With the Swiss technology now in use, the quality and comfort matrices are being monitored during the construction itself.
The sensors measure ups and downs and the comfort level of the road, allowing immediate corrective action wherever necessary.
Given the successful implementation on the Expressway, UPEIDA plans to introduce this technology on the Gorakhpur Link Expressway as well. This 91.35-kilometre-long expressway will connect Gorakhpur with the Purvanchal Expressway.