During the recent winter session of Vidhan Sabha, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann disclosed a startling revelation – 540 kilometers of roads in the state were nothing more than entries on paper. The discovery was made possible through the implementation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in mapping. The Punjab Mandi Board utilized AI and Geographical Interface System (GIS) to scrutinize village-link roads, saving the state a substantial Rs 163 crore earmarked for their repair. The roads under question were originally under the jurisdiction of the Mandi Board.
Utilizing software procured from a private company, the Mandi Board and the local bodies department mapped roads in various regions, including Ludhiana. Unveiling a significant scam, a government official revealed, “We floated a tender for major roads in Amritsar and Ludhiana, amounting to Rs 550 crore. The mapping process revealed that 140 km of the road didn’t exist, leading to a saving of Rs 100 crore, with Rs 24 crore saved initially and an additional Rs 76 crore upon manual verification.”
Undeterred by this revelation, officials are gearing up to implement AI in an upcoming tender for the re-carpeting of 600 km of roads. The objective is to enhance transparency and prevent fraud, ensuring that taxpayers’ money is utilized efficiently.
Highlighting the fraudulent practice of exaggerating the carpeted width of roads, an official explained, “Fraudsters were inflating the carpeted width of roads. AI proved invaluable in exposing this deception, identifying the actual dimensions and saving considerable public funds.”
Beyond road management, Punjab authorities are exploring further applications of AI. Plans include using AI to monitor waste management, identifying areas where garbage accumulates, and ensuring accountability for cleanup teams. Additionally, AI will be employed to curb the proliferation of illegal colonies, providing a technological solution to detect unauthorized structures and prevent connivance with field staff.