Advertisement
In a move to strengthen public infrastructure safety, Bihar's Road Construction Department has joined hands with IIT Delhi to launch a six-month advanced certification programme for its engineers. The initiative, which is part of the newly approved Bihar State Bridge Management & Maintenance Policy, 2025, aims to equip engineers with AI-powered bridge management and real-time monitoring expertise. The policy, described as India's first state-level bridge upkeep framework, also mandates drone-based assessments and transparency through a digital bridge management portal.
The Bihar government's Road Construction Department has entered into a collaboration with the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, to roll out an advanced certification programme focused on AI-driven bridge management and real-time structural health monitoring. This development follows a spate of incidents involving bridge collapses in the state, including around a dozen structures that failed within just over a fortnight during the monsoon last year. Advertisement
The six-month training, scheduled to commence in the near future, has been integrated into the Bihar State Bridge Management & Maintenance Policy, 2025, which was recently cleared by the Cabinet. Officials explained that the policy is designed to build in-house expertise, reduce reliance on external consultants, and enhance long-term safety and sustainability of bridges across the state.
Under this initiative, more than 100 state engineers will receive training in AI and machine learning-based analysis of drone and sensor data to compute Bridge Health Index (BHI) scores. They will also be introduced to systems enabling real-time monitoring with the use of strain gauges and tilt meters on critical bridges. Additionally, engineers will learn to apply algorithm-based Maintenance Priority Index (MPI) models to optimise resource allocation.
Authorities confirmed that all inspection data, including BHI scores, will be made publicly available via the Bridge Information and Management System (BIMS) portal, ensuring greater transparency. The new policy mandates drone deployment to assess the structural health of all state-maintained bridges. These drones, equipped with high-resolution cameras and thermal imaging, will capture defects such as cracks and corrosion. The data collected will be processed using AI algorithms for precise assessments.
The Minister of Road Construction, Nitin Nabin, stated that the future of infrastructure lies in technology and self-reliance. He noted that with this training, engineers would be capable of independently handling all bridge-related tasks using advanced AI tools. He further outlined the government's target of conducting all routine inspections internally and designing bridges of up to 250 metres without external aid by 2026. He emphasised that this marks a pivotal step towards technology-driven, self-reliant governance in infrastructure.
The use of these advanced systems is expected to gradually replace traditional manual inspections across Bihar's 3,968 bridges, with special attention to 45 high-risk structures flagged in earlier audits by IIT Patna and IIT Delhi.
By training its engineers in AI-powered monitoring and mandating drone-based inspections, the state aims to address recurring safety concerns and reduce dependency on outside consultants. The newly introduced policy not only strengthens accountability by making inspection data public but also sets a precedent for systematic bridge management in India. If successfully implemented, the initiative could redefine the way states oversee infrastructure safety and maintenance.
Source - PTI
5th Jun, 2025
25th May, 2023
11th May, 2023
27th Apr, 2023
Advertisement
Facebook
Whatsapp
