New Delhi, Delhi, 23rd of February, 2026 : What if the country’s highways could speak, not in words but through data, diagnostics and decisive action? As the nation builds roads at an unprecedented scale, the focus is now shifting from just expanding networks to ensuring world-class quality, safety and reliability.
A clear step in that direction is the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH)’s pilot project to closely monitor construction quality on National Highways using Mobile Quality Control Vans (MQCV). The pilot has been implemented across four states —Rajasthan, Gujarat, Karnataka and Odisha.
The goal is simple and focused
These Mobile Quality Control Vans will be used for quick diagnosis of quality of ongoing National Highways works. Each mobile van functions as a on-the-move laboratory, fully equipped with non-destructive testing instruments. This Van includes ultrasonic pulse velocity meters, rebound hammers, asphalt density gauges and reflectometers, among others.
Mobile Quality Control Vans: Taking Labs to the Highway
At the heart of MQCVs lies a suite of advanced non-destructive testing instruments that allow quality to be checked without disrupting construction.
Rebound hammers: This test is used to assess the surface hardness and estimate the strength of hardened concrete structures on-site.
Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity meter: It sends sound waves through concrete, revealing hidden cracks, voids and inconsistencies.
Asphalt density gauges: These are portable devices that allow for fast, on-site non-nuclear testing to ensure proper asphalt compaction and pavement longevity.
Light-Weight Deflectometer: It helps estimate density of compacted soil and granular sub-base to ensure stable base for long-lasting highways.
Reflectometers: It assesses the visibility of road signs and markings, ensuring they remain clearly readable for motorists, day and night.
Together, these technologies transform quality control from a reactive process into a proactive, on-site assurance of safety, durability and reliability on India’s highways.
The test results will be shared by the Ministry with its field offices and in case of any quality deficiencies being found, the field office will take appropriate action. As the pilot project moves into its next phase, the Ministry is developing a National Highway Quality Monitoring Portal that will make test reports generated by these vans available online. The portal provides real-time GPS tracking of the mobile vans, enabling transparent monitoring and data-driven oversight of quality checks across National Highways.
Towards the next phase
This mobile quality control system is set to expand to more states: MoRTH has already planned the next phase of MQCVs across 11 States which included Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Assam & Meghalaya. Tenders for the next phase of MQCVs have already been invited and are expected to be commissioned by June, 2026 reinforcing a simple promise that India’s highways will be built not just faster but also with accountability at its core.
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