Present Conditions of Indian Bridge Management System

The Indian Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is going to build a Bridge Management System. It will include more than a lakh Bridge structures under the Bridge Management System (IBMS).  These structures include 1, 34,299 culverts, 32806 minor bridges, more than 300 minor and more than a thousand extra long bridges. This is for to maintain the inventory list of all the bridges in the country and rate their structural condition so that timely repair can be done. IBMS will be the largest platform of a single owner in the entire world. Its database will include more than a lakh bridges.

Till now, there is no separate database for the bridges in India and eventually no idea about the count and the standard of the bridge. The difficulty of maintaining the bridge has become a matter of concern. Poor conditions of the bridges lead to inefficient transportation, accidents and thereby loss of lives. Under this IBMS, each bridge is given a National identity number based on the State, RTO Zone, Highway or State way or District road. Then, the precise location of the bridge with the help of GPS is created and named as Bridge Location Number. Its engineering characteristics are taken into account like the age, type of bridge, the materials with which it is made of, etc. And now based on this Bridge Classification Number is given. These are then used to assign a Structural Rating Number. Taking into account, the economic activity that takes place in the bridge Socio-Economic Bridge rating number is also given. 

With all this information-packed, IBMS will now allow us to analyze and identify the bridges that need urgent attention. Frequent Inspection will also be carried out to improve the operational availability of the structure.