NFR Deploys Underwater Robotic Tech to Boost Bridge Safety

03 Dec 2025 CW Team

The Northeast Frontier Railway has expanded the use of Remotely Operated Robotic Vehicles (RORV) to carry out detailed underwater and structural inspections of major bridges across the region. Kapinjal Kishore Sharma, CPRO, Northeast Frontier Railway, said the latest assessment cycle covered critical structures including the 1.45-km Saraighat Bridge over the Brahmaputra and several key bridges under the Alipurduar (APDJ) Division.

“These bridges have substructures that remain submerged throughout the year, making underwater inspection essential for evaluating the condition of foundations, wells and piers,” Kapinjal Kishore Sharma, CPRO, Northeast Frontier Railway, said. The historic Saraighat Bridge—India’s first rail-cum-road bridge over the Brahmaputra—was examined using a mix of RORV surveys, LiDAR, thermal imaging, Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) and Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity (UPV) tests to map scour zones, stress points and deck components with precision.

In the APDJ Division, 18 major bridges underwent comprehensive checks, with robotic systems capturing high-resolution visuals of submerged piers, riverbeds and potential vulnerabilities. Across all structures inspected, no significant underwater defects were found.

During 2024–25, NFR completed underwater surveys of 13 bridges using RORV. In 2025–26, 34 additional bridges have already been inspected. Sharma said these insights significantly strengthen NFR’s structural health monitoring efforts and enable timely planning for preventive maintenance.

He added that adopting RORV, combined with advanced digital tools, represents a major leap in scientific bridge assessment. NFR will continue upgrading its inspection systems to ensure the safety and longevity of critical connectivity routes, particularly strategic structures such as the Saraighat Bridge and other key bridges across the Northeast.

News source: ANI

Real Estate

24 Dec 2025

Modon, Related, Panepinto form JV for Harborside 4 in Jersey City

Abu Dhabi-based Modon Holding PSC has formed a joint venture with US real estate major Related Companies and Jersey City-based Panepinto Properties to develop Harborside 4, a 54-storey luxury residential tower on a prime waterfront site in downtown Jersey City, New Jersey.Under the partnership, Modon will hold a majority equity stake alongside Related and Panepinto, marking another step in the group’s strategy to scale and diversify its global real estate portfolio. The project will be developed on one of the last remaining premium waterfront parcels in the city.Designed by Handel Architects..

P+Ex and Post-Tensioning Institute partner to drive sustainability

P+Ex, the Center of Excellence for Concrete Preservation and Service Life Extension, has announced a strategic partnership with the Post-Tensioning Institute (PTI) aimed at advancing sustainability, durability, and resilience in the built environment.The collaboration brings together P+Ex’s expertise in concrete preservation, repair, and service life extension with PTI’s global leadership in post-tensioning technology. Through this alliance, the two organisations will work to advance best practices in durability-focused design for new structures, while also promoting effective repair, reha..

India’s Largest 2,000 MW Subansiri Hydro Project Turns Operational

India’s largest hydropower project, the 2,000 MW Subansiri Lower Hydroelectric Project, has finally become operational with the commissioning of its first unit, marking a major milestone after nearly 20 years of development marked by delays, protests and cost escalation.The 250 MW Unit-2 of the project, located on the Subansiri River at Gerukamukh on the Assam–Arunachal Pradesh border, was virtually inaugurated from New Delhi by Union Minister of Power Manohar Lal Khattar. The event was attended by Pankaj Agarwal, Secretary (Power), and Bhupender Gupta, Chairman and Managing Director, Nati..