Bihar to Introduce Health Cards for Over 3,500 Bridges as New Maintenance Policy Nears Completion

Patna: Bihar is set to roll out a comprehensive bridge maintenance policy, with health cards being introduced for more than 3,500 bridges across the state. The Bihar Bridge Maintenance Policy 2025, currently in its final stage, aims to ensure timely monitoring, repair, and strengthening of bridges. At a high-level meeting on Wednesday, Road Construction Minister Nitin Nabin directed officials to finalize the policy and send it to the cabinet for approval.

The proposed health cards will provide real-time data on bridge conditions, helping to detect issues such as potholes, cracks, and waterlogging. Engineers will be assigned to carry out repairs based on the findings. The initiative, developed with technical support from IIT Delhi, IIT Roorkee, IIT Madras, and IIT Patna, is expected to enhance bridge safety and longevity. Once approved, department engineers will receive training to implement the policy effectively.

Since 2022, the Bihar government has been working to introduce a structured bridge maintenance system similar to its successful road maintenance policy under OPRMC. Minister Nabin emphasized the need for real-time monitoring to improve travel safety and extend the lifespan of bridges. He also reinforced the strict enforcement of bans on heavy vehicle halts on bridges, instructing officials to implement the regulation immediately.

A structural safety audit is already underway to assess the condition of bridges under the Road Construction Department. In the first phase, IIT Patna and IIT Delhi will conduct third-party audits of 85 bridges longer than 250 meters. Using imaging tools such as visual inspection, sensors, and drone cameras, authorities will collect bridge data and perform non-destructive testing and load tests.

Under the new policy, each bridge will be assessed using the Bridge Health Index (BHI) and Maintenance Priority Index (MPI) to determine necessary interventions. The Bihar State Bridge Construction Corporation Limited will oversee the implementation, with retrofitting and rehabilitation carried out as needed. The government hopes that these measures will establish Bihar as a leader in bridge maintenance and infrastructure safety.