State PWD has formulated a comprehensive schedule for maintenance of bridges and flyovers, making it mandatory for “visual inspection” to be conducted four times a year along with an annual health check-up. A notification in this regard has been issued by PWD recently.

The respective divisions will be responsible for undertaking periodic inspection, taking up repairs and proper maintenance of the bridges under their jurisdictions. Each division will take up visual inspection of the bridge four times in a year ~ February, May, August and November.

“In case they notice any distress or any condition which requires expert opinion, they shall inform the same in writing to the Bridge Inspection and Monitoring Cell and follow up with them so that the advice is received early and action is initiated,” read the notification.

Again, health check-up of all bridges will be done once a year. This will include all nondestructive testing of various components of the bridge to find out indications of distress, a distress mapping of the bridge, prescription for repairs and other actions needed to restore the bridge to the condition it was just after construction.

The Bridge Inspection and Monitoring Cell will empanel a list of agencies for conducting annual health checkup of bridges.

In fact, PWD has even specified the roles of the divisions and the Bridge Inspection and Monitoring Cell. According to it, apart from maintenance, visual inspection and repairing, the divisions have been empowered to impose traffic restriction/ blockage and speed restrictions in consultation with the cell as and when needed. It has to maintain a register for each bridge with original drawings and specifications, details of all repair and other work carried out on the bridge and inspection reports.

It will have to conduct annual health checkup by engaging agency, getting the check up done, obtaining reports, sharing reports with Bridge Inspection and Monitoring Cell and taking follow up action on recommendations in consultation with the cell.

The work of the divisions will be supervised by respective circles and the zone will monitor the overall progress.

On the other hand, the Bridge Inspection and Monitoring Cell will inspect all distressed and damaged bridges, provide check list for visual inspection by concerned division, prepare panel of agencies for health checkup of bridges and for rehabilitation and retrofitting of bridges.

It will have to advice concerned division on undertaking repairs and traffic restrictions.

The Bridge Inspection and Monitoring Cell will function under the direction of Chief Engineer (Planning) Roads.

The chief engineer (planning), Roads, will assign the responsibilities and duties of the engineers posted in the Cell.

A zonal committee will monitor the activities of bridge inspection and rehabilitation at zone level each month. This committee will comprise the chief engineer for the zone, PWD, chief Engineer for the zone, PWD (Roads), concerned superintending engineers for the zone, PWD, concerned superintending engineers for the zone, PWD (Roads)

Again, an apex committee at the state level will monitor the entire matter once in two months. This apex committee will comprise engineer-in-chief & ex-officio secretary – chairman, chief engineer (Planning) Roads – member secretary, chief engineer (PWD), Hqrs, chief engineer (PWD) Roads, Hqrs.

In order to take any policy decision, this committee will recommend it to principal secretary of the department.