I’ve spent the better part of my career in construction, watching India’s cities expand, densify, and modernise. But what we’re seeing now, especially around road infrastructure, isn’t just development. It’s transformation.
Smart road technologies are turning our highways, streets, and transit corridors into digital assets. And the impact is bigger than most people realize especially when it comes to real estate value creation and urban growth. Let me break this down.
What Are Smart Roads, Really?
Smart roads consist of more than basic lighting and asphalt installation. The infrastructure combines sensors with data networks, IoT devices, and EV charging stations to enhance transportation efficiency, sustainability, and security.
Consider:
- The IoT highways operate dynamically to adjust traffic flow.
- The installation of EV charging lanes together with battery-swapping nodes serves as an essential feature on major transportation routes.
- Real-time pollution and weather sensors enable cities to develop climate planning strategies.
- The lighting system adjusts its energy consumption based on actual usage patterns.
This isn’t future talk. It’s already happening. The Delhi-Meerut Expressway, for example, is a semi-smart corridor with automated traffic systems and EV zones. And the government’s National Electric Mobility Mission is aggressively pushing for 6,000+ EV charging stations across major highways.
Why This Matters for Real Estate
Here’s what we’re seeing on the ground: Wherever smart road infrastructure goes, real estate demand and value tend to follow. Why? Because these roads solve two big urban problems mobility and sustainability.
We recently worked on a mixed-use development near Pune, just off a highway now being upgraded with EV charging stations and adaptive traffic systems. Within 18 months of the roadwork starting, inquiries from commercial tenants jumped by over 30%. And residential interest doubled especially among younger buyers looking for sustainable transit options.
Smart Roads as Investment Signals
For real estate investors, smart roads are more than just infrastructure they’re indicators of long-term value. They tell you where the city is headed, where footfall will increase, and where sustainable growth is being prioritized.
It’s no coincidence that India’s top Smart Cities like Ahmedabad, Pune, and Surat are also seeing some of the fastest-growing real estate markets. Smart roads aren’t the only reason, but they’re a critical one.
What Needs to Happen Next
Three conditions need to be met to fully realise the potential:
- Policy support needs to advance faster than the current pace. NHAI and MoHUA are progressing, but execution speed and cross-department coordination will be key.
- Public-private partnerships (PPPs) should lead the way. We need builders, tech firms, and government working together not in silos.
- Real estate developers must treat smart road proximity as a fundamental planning factor instead of an optional extra.
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