The Government launched the PRISM-SG (Portal for Rail-Road Inspection and Stages Management – Steel Girders) Portal in New Delhi to digitise and accelerate approval and inspection processes for Road Over Bridges (ROBs). The launch was presided over by the ministers for Road Transport and Highways and for Railways, Information and Broadcasting, Electronics and IT. The portal aims to bolster efficiency, transparency and inter-agency coordination in infrastructure delivery.

The system provides end-to-end online submission of documents, scrutiny, resolution of queries and formal approvals, together with scheduling of inspections and uploading of inspection reports, photographs and test results. It incorporates Quality Assurance Plan (QAP) and Welding Procedure Specification Sheet (WPSS) management and the fabrication stage inspection workflow for steel girders. Every action is recorded in a complete audit trail and the portal offers real-time monitoring for stakeholders. The design aims to streamline interactions between contractors and inspection agencies and to reduce paperwork and site visits.

Previously, construction of ROBs required multiple approvals from Indian Railways, including General Arrangement Drawings and structural drawings, with approvals for those elements processed through the RRCAS portal. Processes related to QAP, WPSS and fabrication inspections were largely conducted offline, which often caused delays and limited real-time tracking and coordination among agencies. The PRISM-SG Portal integrates Road Owning Departments, Indian Railways, contractors, fabricators and inspection agencies on a single digital platform.

Officials estimate that the initiative will reduce approval and inspection timelines from 12 months to about three to four months, substantially improving project delivery. The digital workflow is expected to enhance accountability and transparency, reduce administrative bottlenecks and support timely completion of ROBs and railway bridges. The platform is likely to strengthen connectivity and contribute to faster infrastructure delivery across the country. Authorities expect the portal to support improved scheduling and resource allocation for bridge projects.