The infrastructure domain has been witnessing modernisation of operations owing to the use of cutting-edge communication technologies. Key sectors such as roadways, railways, ports, water and waste, bridges, aviation, and power are witnessing a massive digital shift. Following the advent of 5G, numerous use cases of the technology have emerged. Other technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), internet of things (IoT), big data analytics and drones are finding growing takers across these sectors. Going forward, as the adoption of these technologies gains momentum, sectors across the infrastructure domain are expected to witness increasing modernisation, paving the way for improved operational efficiency.
Leveraging advanced technologies
Infrastructure sectors have started leveraging advanced technologies and data-driven solutions to enhance their operational efficiency, safety and sustainability. For instance, the port sector uses advanced technologies to automate and streamline operations, reduce the risk of errors, and improve its capacity to manage large volumes of cargo. Further, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways is modernising information technology (IT) systems across all ports in the country. The IT systems used in the ports and shipping sector encompass port operations systems, standard systems applications and products enterprise resource planning, auxiliary systems such as geographic information systems, document management and e-office systems. The introduction and adoption of digital solutions are expected to significantly improve the competitiveness of Indian ports globally, in the long run. Further, it is anticipated that the implementation of technologies such as 5G, remote-controlled ship-to-shore cranes and container scanners will augment the efficacy levels of Indian ports.
Enhancing operational efficiency
The adoption of technology has also been instrumental in enhancing operational efficiency and citizen convenience. In the aviation sector, self-service kiosks, biometric identification and real-time flight information systems have streamlined processes and reduced wait time at airports. Further, the concept of smart and sustainable airports has gained prominence in recent years. Smart airports leverage technology to enhance operational efficiency, improve the passenger experience and minimise environmental impacts. A few examples of advancements in this direction are automated baggage handling systems, IoT-enabled facility management and biometric boarding processes.
Moreover, advanced analytics and data-driven insights are being used to optimise resource allocation and effectively manage security. The biometric authentication-based DigiYatra app has further streamlined security checks, making the process faster, frictionless and more secure. Airports are also developing digital solutions to enhance passenger experience, such as mobile apps for real-time updates, wayfinding assistance within terminals and AI-powered chatbots to address passenger queries, ensuring timely and accurate responses.
Undertaking digital upgrades
The country’s transportation infrastructure has also been witnessing the adoption of new technologies. The road sector, in particular, has been receiving significant attention with the aim of creating a robust and efficient network through strategic planning and substantial investments. Additionally, 5D building information modelling (BIM) technology is being used for road projects, both before and after project execution. Intelligent traffic management systems are also being used at the post-construction stage to gather live traffic data. Moreover, automatic toll collection is being carried out using Korean technology.
The railways have also been taking remarkable strides towards modernisation and improved connectivity. The Vande Bharat trains, for instance, represent a significant advancement in India’s railway infrastructure with enhanced safety features, faster acceleration and improved passenger amenities. These trains are equipped with automatic plug doors, reclining ergonomic seats and mobile charging sockets for every seat. As of January 31, 2024, more than 100 Vande Bharat train services were operational across Indian Railways, with an overall occupancy rate of 96.62 per cent during 2022-23.
Moving towards Gati Shakti
The Gati Shakti platform is one of the most significant digital upgrades mandated by the government. It is a collaborative initiative that utilises the geographic information system to map every infrastructure project. This includes upcoming sewage projects, water and electrical lines, road bridges and other infrastructure projects worth over Rs 1 billion. Additionally, it includes a critical facility that provides data on established forests, maps of reserves and areas where construction is prohibited. This facilitates and simplifies alignment studies for agencies such as the National Highways Authority of India. For instance, Gati Shakti facilitated the execution of projects such as the Pune-Bengaluru greenfield expressway by providing information on sewer boundaries, cross-country electrical lines and optical fibre cable network crossings, ultimately saving time.
Driving smart meter adoption
Smart meters are a key example of the use of advanced technology in the infrastructure sectors. Following the success of various pilot projects across the country and positive outcomes for stakeholders, the pace of smart meter awards and installation is gaining momentum in the power sector. As of January 2024, 8.6 million smart consumer meters have been installed in the country. Notably, in 2023-24 (as of January), 3.02 million smart meters have been installed, which is nearly double the number installed in the previous year. According to industry estimates, India can save Rs 9.5 trillion by investing Rs 1.25 trillion in replacing 250 million conventional meters with smart meters.
Over the past year, the Ministry of Power’s Rs 3 trillion Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme has given a fillip to the installation of smart meters. Under the scheme, smart meters are being implemented under the design-build-finance-own-operate-transfer model. Advanced metering infrastructure service providers have been contracted for financing, supplying, installing and operating the meters, along with the associated communication and IT infrastructure. This model allows discoms to set up smart meters without the burden of making an upfront investment, allowing them to take control of the assets at no cost when the contract concludes.
In terms of partnerships, IntelliSmart recently signed up with Bharti Airtel to provide real-time connectivity and smart IoT solutions, powered by narrowband IoT, 4G and 2G. The solution will also be powered by Airtel’s IoT platform, Airtel IoT Hub, which enables smart meter tracking and monitoring with advanced analytics and diagnostic capabilities.
Addressing security risks and other challenges
While digitalisation is on the rise in the infrastructure sectors, certain challenges hamper its adoption. For instance, there have been increasing incidents of cybersecurity attacks on ports. National security imperatives should be undertaken at all ports to safeguard information.
Further, in the modernisation of roads and highways, the process of transferring data from one location to another lacks transparency. Obtaining real-time daily progress reports, dealing with vendors and addressing fuel leaks in vehicles are additional obstacles. To manage these issues, online portals have been designed and implemented, significantly enhancing project operations.
Another issue faced in the road sector is that technology adoption necessitates skilled labour. However, trained personnel frequently switch organisations, making their deployment difficult; while existing personnel are often not adequately trained to deploy technologies such as BIM, which are critical for reducing project implementation delays.
In the field of smart metering, robust IT integration – entailing seamless integration of meter data with other utility systems such as customer information systems and enterprise resource planning systems – is crucial for the successful implementation of a smart metering project. At times, this becomes an issue. Meanwhile, the growing digitalisation of processes and an increase in the number of touchpoints necessitates the incorporation of foolproof cybersecurity measures.
Conclusion
The challenges notwithstanding, the level of digitalisation is only going to increase across the infrastructure sectors in the coming years. With the wider proliferation of 5G technology, several use cases for it will emerge in multiple sectors. For instance, in some countries, 5G-powered IoT devices have been installed on gantry cranes to enable remote and automated cargo handling at ports. Indian ports, too, can take lessons from this 5G application. Moreover, fostering public-private partnerships with companies that provide cutting-edge communication solutions for different infrastructure sectors will be crucial to ensure seamless, real-time connectivity.
