In response to a spate of bridge collapses during last year’s monsoon—when a dozen bridges failed within just 15 days—Bihar’s Road Construction Department is partnering with IIT Delhi to launch an advanced certification programme in AI-powered bridge management and real-time structural health monitoring.
Scheduled to run for six months starting in September 2025, this programme forms a pillar of the newly approved Bihar State Bridge Management & Maintenance Policy, 2025—the nation’s first state-level initiative focused explicitly on systematic bridge upkeep. The certification aims to strengthen indigenous technical capacity, reduce reliance on external consultants, and ensure safer, more sustainable infrastructure in the long term, according to state officials.
More than 100 government engineers will participate, receiving training in AI and machine learning techniques to analyze drone-captured imagery and sensor data to compute Bridge Health Index (BHI) scores. This includes deploying strain gauges and tilt meters on critical bridges and applying algorithm-based Maintenance Priority Index (MPI) models to prioritize repairs efficiently. All inspection data and BHI scores will be accessible to the public through a new Bridge Information and Management System (BIMS) portal, reinforcing transparency.
With this pioneering effort, Bihar sets a new benchmark in proactive infrastructure management, signifying a decisive shift toward technology-driven governance in the realm of public safety.
