Patna:The Bihar government is considering the use of satellite technology to monitor the structural health of bridges across the state following recent incidents involving cracks in several bridges and the collapse of a span of the Vikramshila Setu into the river in Bhagalpur.
The Road Construction Department has initiated a study on the feasibility and effectiveness of satellite-based inspections and has held discussions with Israeli experts on the technology. Officials said a round of meetings was conducted through video conferencing with engineers associated with bridge construction and maintenance in Bihar.
According to the department, the exercise is aimed at understanding how satellite monitoring can help detect structural issues at an early stage and improve bridge safety.
State increases inspections
The Bihar State Bridge Construction Corporation has also decided to conduct inspections of all bridges twice every year. As part of the exercise, more than 4,000 bridges across the state have already been inspected.
Officials said no major structural issue has been identified during the inspections so far.
Road Construction Minister Kumar Shailendra said engineers involved in bridge construction would also be assigned responsibility for regular inspections and monitoring. He added that the department is preparing a standard operating procedure (SOP) for periodic inspection and maintenance of bridges.
How satellite monitoring works
Experts say satellite-based bridge monitoring is increasingly being used globally to assess structural conditions. The technology relies on radar imaging to detect minute movements and deformations in structures.
According to specialists, the system can identify millimetre-level shifts and inclinations that may indicate structural stress or damage before they become visible during physical inspections.
Officials believe such monitoring could help strengthen preventive maintenance and improve infrastructure safety standards in the state.
