Patna: A 12-day training programme aimed at improving the quality of rural infrastructure in Bihar began at IIT Patna on Thursday, bringing together around 60 engineers from the state’s Rural Works Department (RWD). The programme, titled Infra Impact Phase II, focuses on strengthening technical knowledge in bridge and pavement design, inspection and performance assessment, with the larger goal of building safer and more durable roads and bridges in rural areas.
Inaugurating the programme, IIT Patna director Prof T N Singh spoke about the importance of continuous learning in the life of an engineer. He said the ability to learn is a skill, but the willingness to learn is a personal choice. Civil engineers, he noted, often face criticism when infrastructure projects fail, but they play a crucial role in society by studying those failures and using them to improve future work. According to him, engineers should not feel discouraged by criticism, as learning from mistakes is essential for progress.
The programme began with a lamp-lighting ceremony attended by senior academicians, including Prof Ramakar Jha of NIT Patna, acting head of department and associate dean (postgraduate), along with faculty members Dr Subrata Hait, Dr Vaibhav Singhal, Dr Nitin Kumar, Dr Arvind Kumar Jha and Dr Arpit Jain. Their presence highlighted the collaboration between leading technical institutions to support the professional development of government engineers.
Explaining the structure of the training, Dr Vaibhav Singhal said the course has been designed to address real challenges faced by engineers working in the field. The sessions will cover subjects such as hydrology, hydraulic studies, bridge waterway design, scour protection, geotechnical investigation, foundation design, bridge engineering and pavement engineering. Prof Ramakar Jha, addressing the participants, emphasised that advanced training is essential to ensure infrastructure can withstand increasing traffic loads and environmental pressures.
Organisers said the programme aims to build capacity among engineers and improve the overall quality of rural infrastructure in Bihar. By combining classroom learning with practical insights, the training is expected to help engineers design and maintain roads and bridges that are safer, more resilient and better suited to the needs of rural communities across the state.
