Patna: In a significant policy shift, the Bihar government has decided to involve state-run engineering colleges in the structural safety audit of bridges, a task that has traditionally been entrusted to premier institutions such as the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and National Institutes of Technology (NITs).
The move comes as the Road Construction Department prepares to undertake safety audits of 479 bridges across the state. Given the scale of the exercise, the Bihar State Bridge Construction Corporation (BSBCC) has invited proposals from government engineering colleges in Bihar to participate in the project.
Engineering colleges in Muzaffarpur and Bhagalpur are among the institutions likely to be considered for the assignment.
Institutes to Be Finalised Within Two Weeks
According to officials of the Bihar State Bridge Construction Corporation, the names of the engineering institutions selected for the bridge safety audits are expected to be finalised within the next fortnight.
The structural audit work is expected to begin shortly after the selection process is completed.
Earlier, IIT Patna had conducted structural audits of bridges longer than 60 metres constructed by the Bihar State Bridge Construction Corporation and submitted its findings to the state government.
₹47.78 Crore Approved for Third-Party Safety Audit
The state government has granted administrative approval of ₹47.78 crore to carry out third-party safety audits of the bridges.
The audits will cover 479 bridges measuring between 60 metres and 250 metres in length across Bihar.
As part of the assessment, experts will examine the current structural condition of each bridge, evaluate its load-bearing capacity, and assess its ability to withstand future traffic demands.
The inspection will include detailed examination of bearings, girders, spans, expansion joints, approach roads, and drainage systems to identify any structural deficiencies and recommend corrective measures.
Reports to Be Uploaded Within 72 Hours
Officials said that the complete safety audit report for each bridge will be uploaded to the department’s designated online portal within 72 hours of the completion of the inspection.
The initiative is aimed at strengthening bridge safety monitoring, ensuring timely maintenance, and improving the long-term durability of critical road infrastructure across Bihar.
