Patna: Addressing past criticisms regarding bridge collapses, the Bihar government’s Road Construction Department has announced a significant initiative: an independent third-party safety audit of 85 bridges exceeding 250 meters in length across the state. This comprehensive audit will be conducted by students from IIT Patna and IIT Delhi.
The administrative approval for this crucial project has been granted by Additional Chief Secretary Mihir Kumar Singh. The move comes in response to concerns that a lack of regular maintenance has led to bridges deteriorating before their expected lifespan. The structural safety audit is deemed essential to identify existing problems and facilitate timely repairs, ensuring the continued safe use of these vital infrastructure assets.
In this initial phase, the audit will focus on 85 of the state’s 532 large-category bridges. Bihar currently boasts a total of 3,968 bridges under the Road Construction Department’s purview. The audit will be managed on behalf of the Bihar State Police Construction Corporation Limited. Officials anticipate that the completion of this work will render the audited bridges fully functional and enhance safe transportation for the public.
To prepare for this undertaking, the Road Construction Department recently provided two days of training to executive and junior engineers across the state. Held in Patna on May 20 and 27, the sessions, led by experts, equipped engineers with the necessary methods and knowledge for conducting safety audits.
