Guwahati: The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has successfully carried out comprehensive underwater and structural inspections of several major railway bridges using state-of-the-art Remotely Operated Robotic Vehicle (RORV) technology. Among the key structures inspected were the iconic Saraighat Bridge over the Brahmaputra and multiple important bridges under the Alipurduar (APDJ) Division.
Many of these bridges have substructures submerged throughout the year, making underwater assessment crucial for evaluating the condition of wells, foundations and piers. The use of RORV has enabled high-precision monitoring of these submerged components, significantly enhancing safety standards.
The historic Saraighat Bridge — India’s first rail-cum-road bridge over the Brahmaputra — spanning 1.45 km and connecting Pandu and Amingaon, underwent one of the most detailed inspections to date. NFR deployed a combination of RORV surveys, LiDAR, thermal imaging, Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) and Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity (UPV) tests. These assessments examined pier caps, well foundations, scour zones, superstructure stress points and deck components.
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In the APDJ Division, 18 important bridges were thoroughly inspected. The RORV captured high-resolution visuals of submerged piers, riverbeds and potential structural defects. Notably, no major underwater issues were detected across these structures.
During 2024–25, NFR completed underwater inspections of 13 bridges using RORV, while 34 more bridges have already been examined in 2025–26. These detailed insights strengthen NFR’s structural health monitoring and support proactive maintenance planning.
NFR stated that it remains committed to leveraging modern inspection technologies to ensure the safety, durability and reliability of crucial railway bridges across the region. The integration of RORV and advanced digital tools marks a significant leap in scientific bridge assessment, reinforcing protection of vital connectivity routes, including the Saraighat Bridge and other key structures central to rail operations in the Northeast.
