In an interview, Harsh Pareek, Regional Sales Director, India and SAARC, Trimble Solutions, spoke with TimesTech about the pivotal role of 3D modeling, automation, and digital collaboration in transforming India’s highway revolution infrastructure. Harsh highlighted how technologies like GNSS, BIM, and digital twins are reducing delays, enhancing safety, and boosting sustainability—positioning Trimble as a strategic enabler in India’s journey toward smarter, faster, and more resilient road networks.
Read the full interview here:
TimesTech: India is witnessing a massive push towards infrastructure development, especially in highways and expressways. How is 3D modeling transforming the entire design-to-execution lifecycle of road construction projects?
Harsh: The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has reached a historic milestone in FY 2024–25, recording a capital expenditure of over ₹2.5 lakh crore—surpassing its target of ₹2.4 lakh crore. This highlights India’s accelerated focus on infrastructure development, particularly in the road construction sector. A key driver of this transformation is the adoption of 3D modeling technology, which is reshaping how road construction projects are planned, designed, and executed. Unlike traditional 2D methods, 3D modeling offers a comprehensive digital representation of projects, enabling better visualization, early clash detection, and more informed decision-making throughout the project lifecycle.
From the initial planning stages to final construction, 3D models help engineers analyze terrain, alignments, and design alternatives in real-time. Additionally, they make it possible to integrate data from different disciplines more effectively, which minimizes errors and rework. Project teams can work together in a shared digital environment using road alignment solutions which keep all stakeholders informed and in sync. Route optimization, asset management, and construction sequencing are all supported by these platforms.
As India fast-tracks its infrastructure goals, 3D modeling is emerging as an indispensable tool—boosting sustainability, improving efficiency, and enhancing cost control in road construction projects.
TimesTech: Trimble has been at the forefront of digital construction globally. What specific automation technologies are being leveraged in India to reduce project delays, enhance safety, and cut down material wastage?
Harsh: Several automation tools are being leveraged to reduce project delays, enhance safety, and minimize material wastage. One of the key technologies is 3D machine control, which automates the operation of construction equipment like excavators and graders. By integrating with GPS and 3D models, these machines execute tasks with high precision, significantly reducing rework and saving time.
Building Information Modeling (BIM) is another cornerstone, allowing real-time collaboration across disciplines. This not only improves coordination but also enables early detection of design clashes, avoiding costly delays.
Another key area is material management. With automated takeoff and estimation tools, teams can figure out exactly how much material is needed before construction even begins—helping avoid over-ordering and wastage. On top of that, real-time tracking tools like Trimble WorksOS and WorksManager let project teams monitor progress, equipment use, and site conditions live, so they can make quicker, smarter decisions.
Trimble’s digital collaboration platforms support all of this by keeping everyone in sync—from site engineers to designers. As a result, projects are completed on time, sites are safer, and errors are significantly reduced.
TimesTech: Can you walk us through a real-world example or case study where Trimble’s 3D modeling and automated solutions significantly impacted project efficiency or cost savings in the Indian context?
Harsh: There have been multiple expressways which have used GNSS based Automated Machine Guidance Technology to speed project deliveries significantly. One such expressway is Kanpur Lucknow Expressway which stands out as a prime example of how advanced construction technologies are revolutionizing infrastructure projects in India. This project has a special significance as it was the first project in India where Technology was acknowledged and mandated by NHAI on Graders, Pavers and Compactors. This is a 63-kilometer, six-lane (expandable to eight) access-controlled highway connecting Lucknow and Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh. The project is nearing completion and is expected to reduce travel time between the two cities from 1.5-3 hours to 35-40 minutes. This expressway is considered a significant infrastructure initiative for the region, aiming to facilitate faster and smoother intercity travel.
Trimble’s GNSS-based systems and machine-controlled construction equipment played a crucial role in this project execution to significantly improve the quality and established a real time monitoring during project execution. Real-time 3D control allowed for exact slope alignments and layer thicknesses, significantly reducing material wastage, rework, and construction errors. There has been a significant involvement from authorities (NHAI and Road Ministry) in this project, who have acknowledged the significant benefit the Automated Machine Control Technology has brought to this project execution.
TimesTech: How do technologies like digital twins and cloud-based collaboration platforms contribute to smarter decision-making during road construction and maintenance?
Harsh: Road construction and maintenance decision-making is being transformed by technologies such as digital twins and cloud-based collaboration platforms. In a nutshell a digital twin is a road model that replicates its physical counterpart. This enables project managers and engineers to see how the road will respond to various scenarios and identify possible problems before they arise. Digital twins enable teams to track the state of the road in real-time for ongoing maintenance, allowing them to better plan repairs and prevent needless delays.
Meanwhile, cloud-based collaboration platforms facilitate data access and update sharing for all parties—contractors, designers, and engineers—from any location. This means no one is left out of the loop, reducing mistakes and delays. By keeping everyone on the same page, these platforms help teams make quick decisions and adapt to changes faster, ensuring road construction and maintenance projects run more smoothly and efficiently.
TimesTech: What are some global best practices in digital construction that you believe India can adopt to accelerate its highway infrastructure ambitions?
Harsh: One of the most impactful strategies is the mandatory use of Building Information Modeling (BIM) across all stages of infrastructure projects. Countries like the UK, Singapore, and Norway have institutionalized BIM to enhance design accuracy, improve stakeholder collaboration, and manage assets efficiently throughout their lifecycle. By adopting a similar mandate, India can reduce design errors, eliminate data silos, and streamline construction workflows.
Another key practice is the implementation of digital twins for roads and highways. Countries like Finland and Sweden use real-time digital replicas of physical assets to simulate performance, monitor wear and tear, and enable predictive maintenance. This data-driven approach helps extend infrastructure lifespan, reduce downtime, and allocate maintenance budgets more effectively.
Additionally, the adoption of AI-driven and autonomous construction equipment, as seen in Japan and South Korea, can increase operational efficiency and reduce reliance on manual labor. By integrating these global best practices, India can not only accelerate the pace of highway construction but also ensure higher quality, cost-efficiency, and long-term sustainability.
TimesTech: Looking ahead, how do you envision the future of India’s highways with increased adoption of automation and intelligent construction solutions? What role will Trimble play in this transformation?
Harsh: Looking ahead, the future of India’s highways will be defined by automation, intelligence, and sustainability. As the country continues to invest heavily in infrastructure, the adoption of advanced construction technologies will be key to delivering faster, safer, and more resilient road networks. With the increasing use of automation—from machine-controlled equipment to autonomous surveying tools—construction processes will become significantly more precise and efficient. This will drastically reduce rework, labor-intensive tasks, and material wastage, ultimately leading to shorter project timelines and cost savings. Intelligent construction solutions, such as real-time data analytics, IoT-enabled monitoring, and digital twins, will enable predictive maintenance, traffic management, and better asset lifecycle planning.
Trimble will play a crucial role in this transformation. As a global pioneer in digital construction, Trimble provides end-to-end solutions that integrate 3D modeling, cloud-based collaboration, AI, and geospatial technologies. Its platforms—like Tekla BIM and Trimble Connect among others —will empower stakeholders with real-time insights and centralized project control. Trimble’s solutions also support sustainability goals by optimizing resource usage and reducing environmental impact.
Ultimately, with smart technologies at the core, India’s highways will evolve into digitally connected, data-driven corridors—designed and maintained for long-term performance, safety, and economic growth, with Trimble as a strategic technology enabler.
