Saraighat Bridge, key structures under Alipurduar division inspected with RORV and digital tools; no major underwater defects found, says railway
Maligaon (Guwahati), Nov 1: The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has carried out extensive underwater and structural inspections of major railway bridges in the Northeast using advanced Remotely Operated Robotic Vehicle (RORV) technology, including on the iconic Saraighat Bridge over the Brahmaputra and several key bridges under the Alipurduar (APDJ) division.
NFR said the use of RORV has enabled detailed checks of substructures that remain submerged throughout the year, helping engineers assess the condition of foundations, wells and piers that are otherwise difficult to access. According to the railway, no major underwater defects have been detected so far in the bridges inspected.
The Saraighat Bridge — India’s first rail-cum-road bridge over the Brahmaputra, connecting Pandu and Amingaon near Guwahati and serving as a crucial rail–road lifeline for the Northeast — was examined using a combination of RORV surveys, LiDAR, thermal imaging, Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) and Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity (UPV) tests.
The assessment covered pier caps, well foundations, underwater scour zones, superstructure stress points and deck components, NFR said in a statement.
In the APDJ division, underwater inspection of 18 important bridges has been completed, with the RORV capturing high-resolution visuals of submerged piers, riverbeds and potential defects.
These surveys, officials said, allow engineers to map scour, erosion and other vulnerabilities more accurately and plan preventive measures in advance.
During 2024–25, NFR used RORV technology to inspect 13 bridges, and in 2025–26, 34 additional bridges have already been covered.
The data generated is being fed into NFR’s structural health monitoring system to refine risk assessment and maintenance planning for critical assets across the zone.
The railway said that adopting RORV alongside modern digital tools marks a step towards more scientific, technology-driven bridge assessment in a region heavily dependent on rail connectivity.
It added that the inspection regime will continue to focus on major structures such as the Saraighat Bridge and other key bridges under NFR, which are central to rail operations across the northeastern states.
