Northeast Frontier Railway (NRF) deploys advanced underwater robotic technology to inspect major railway bridges, including Assam’s historic Saraighat Bridge, enhancing safety, structural monitoring, and preventive maintenance across the Northeast region through cutting-edge RORV, LiDAR, thermal imaging, GPR, and digital assessment tools.
The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has taken a major technological leap in infrastructure safety by deploying advanced underwater Remotely Operated Robotic Vehicles (RORVs) to inspect crucial railway bridges across the Northeast region. Officials confirmed on Sunday that this initiative marks one of the most comprehensive structural and underwater examination drives undertaken by the railway zone in recent years.
According to NFR’s Chief Public Relations Officer, Kapinjal Kishore Sharma, the inspection campaign focused particularly on bridges whose substructures remain submerged throughout the year, making manual inspection nearly impossible. These substructures include foundational elements such as wells, piers, and riverbed supports that are essential to the stability and longevity of the bridges. The introduction of robotic underwater technology has significantly enhanced the railway’s ability to identify potential vulnerabilities with high-precision imaging.
One of the most noteworthy inspections was conducted on the iconic Saraighat Bridge in Assam. The 1.45-kilometre structure, India’s first rail-cum-road bridge across the Brahmaputra River, serves as a vital transportation artery connecting Pandu and Amingaon. Given its strategic role in the region’s connectivity, the bridge was subjected to an extensive multi-layered inspection framework that included RORV surveys, LiDAR scanning, thermal imaging, Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR), and Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity (UPV) testing.
These cutting-edge technologies allowed engineers to thoroughly assess critical components such as pier caps, well foundations, underwater scour zones, superstructure stress points, bearings, and deck elements. The integration of digital monitoring tools with robotic underwater visuals provided technical teams with unprecedented clarity in evaluating the structural health of the bridge.
In addition to the Saraighat Bridge, NFR carried out detailed inspections of 18 major bridges under the Alipurduar (APDJ) Division in North Bengal. The RORV systems captured high-resolution video and photographic evidence of submerged components, riverbed profiles, sedimentation patterns, and potential defect zones. These images and measurements have been vital in generating accurate structural reports and assessing long-term maintenance requirements.
Sharma reported that no major underwater defects were found across the inspected bridges. During the 2024–25 financial year, NFR completed the underwater inspection of 13 bridges using RORV technology. In the current financial year 2025–26, 34 additional bridges have already been inspected, reflecting the railway’s rapid scaling of advanced structural monitoring systems.
Officials highlighted that the data collected through these methods play a critical role in preventive maintenance planning. By detecting early signs of wear, scour, or structural compromise, NFR engineers can schedule timely repairs, thus preventing potential failures and ensuring uninterrupted transportation links across challenging terrains.
The Northeast Frontier Railway stressed that its commitment to adopting modern inspection techniques demonstrates its broader goal of strengthening safety protocols throughout the region. The combination of RORV technology with other digital tools has marked a significant advancement in scientific bridge assessment, allowing for deeper insights compared to traditional survey methods.
Given the region’s geographical vulnerabilities—including heavy monsoons, strong river currents, and difficult terrain—the adoption of robotics offers a crucial safety advantage. The Brahmaputra and its tributaries pose additional challenges due to their dynamic riverbeds and high sediment loads, making regular and precise underwater assessment vital.
NFR officials also emphasized that the safety and stability of major bridges such as the Saraighat Bridge and other key structures under the railway zone are essential for supporting both passenger and freight operations. The railway network plays a crucial role in connecting the Northeastern states with the rest of India, and ensuring the reliability of bridges is fundamental to economic activity, disaster response, and daily mobility.
The Northeast Frontier Railway currently operates across all eight Northeastern states, along with seven districts of West Bengal and five districts of northern Bihar. The vast geographic spread of its network makes the reliability of bridges and structural assets even more critical.
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With this technological intervention, NFR has positioned itself at the forefront of infrastructural innovation among Indian Railways. Officials said the railway will continue to expand its robotic inspection program and adopt more advanced monitoring tools to ensure long-term safety and resilience of bridge assets across the region.
