Drone surveys and 3D modelling will give planners a digital replica of the proposed Taranga Hill–Abu Road railway link, letting them test designs before construction.
Geospatial consultancy Matrix Geo Solutions won a contract from the Ajmer Division of Indian Railways to create a digital twin for a new broad gauge corridor between Taranga Hill (Gujarat) and Abu Road (Rajasthan) via Ambaji.
The company will fly LiDAR-equipped drones over the entire alignment, collecting ground data with centimetre-level accuracy.
The surveys will produce topographic maps, elevation models, and orthophotos—these will feed a 3D model of the existing terrain.
A second model of the proposed railway, built to LOD 200 standards, will map formation width, toe lines, bridges, tunnels, and station structures. With a full digital replica, engineers can check for design clashes, fine-tune the alignment, and reduce rework before construction starts.
The project is another sign that Indian Railways is moving away from paper-based planning. For Matrix Geo, a firm that already serves highways and other infra sectors, it adds a sizeable rail contract to its order book.
It also underscores that drone-based LiDAR and digital twins, which were once considered experimental, are turning into a standard requirement for large linear projects, where even a day of delay can push costs up sharply.
Traditionally, railway alignment surveys in India relied on ground teams with total stations and 2D drawings. The Taranga Hill–Abu Road link, connecting Gujarat and Rajasthan, will benefit from the planning and a digital record that can be handed over for future maintenance.
If the corridor meets its targets without the usual design-related delays and cost increases, more railway zones may ask for a digital model before tendering civil works.
