Lok Sabha Question No. 835 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-04
Subject: Structural Safety of Old/Dilapidated Railway Bridges
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Dr. Shivaji Bandappa Kalge, Shri Bhumare Sandipanrao Asaram, Shri Nilesh Dnyandev Lanke, Shri Gyaneshwar Patil

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 835 TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.02.2026

## STRUCTURAL SAFETY OF OLD/DILAPIDATED RAILWAY BRIDGES

†835. SHRI GYANESHWAR PATIL: SHRI NILESH DNYANDEV LANKE: DR. SHIVAJI BANDAPPA KALGE: SHRI BHUMARE SANDIPANRAO ASARAM:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  it  is  true  that  serious  problems  have  been  identified  in  the Road Overbridges  and  Road  underbridges  (ROBs/RUBs)  across  the  country
- construction and maintenance of railway bridges, tunnels, particularly in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh;
- (b)  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to install real-time monitoring and warning systems to ensure the structural safety of old and dilapidated railway bridges;
- (c)  whether  the  safety  audits  are  conducted  periodically  and  if  so,  the number  of  bridges  and  tunnels  inspected  during  the  last  three  year, year-wise; and
- (d) the measures taken by the Government to ensure timely repairing, the use  of  quality  material  and  accountability  of  contractors  for  all  the Railway  infrastructure  projects  in  Maharashtra,  Madhya  Pradesh  and other States, State-wise?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND

## ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

(a) to (d): Safety of Bridges across the country is accorded high priority by Indian  Railways  (IR).  To  ensure  greater  degree  of  safety/safeguards  for bridges, there is a well-established system of inspection of Railway bridges on  IR.  All  the  bridges  are  inspected  twice  a  year  by  designated  officials, once  before  the  onset  of  monsoon  and  a  detailed  inspection  after  the monsoon. In addition, certain bridges are also inspected more frequently

depending upon their condition as decided by CBE.  Comprehensive Technical  inspection  of  important  &  major  bridges  is  done  in  a  way  that 20% of such bridges are inspected annually.

Repair/Strengthening/Rehabilitation/Rebuilding of bridges is a continuous & ongoing process and is undertaken based on inspections of bridges.

During 2022-2025 (upto Dec'2025), 8,626 nos of railway bridges have been repaired / rehabilitated/ strengthened /rebuild in Indian Railways.

In  addition,  certain  railway  bridges  are  also  inspected  more  frequently depending upon their condition. Repair/strengthening/rehabilitation /rebuilding  of  railway  bridges  is  a  continuous  process  and  is  undertaken whenever so warranted by their physical condition as ascertained during these inspections. Special technical audit is also conducted and follow up action is taken. The inspection of Subways/RUBs is conducted before and after the onset of the monsoon. Steps has taken to reduce water-logging in Road  Under  Bridges  (RUBs)  and  subways,  such  as  improved  drainage  in new designs, diverting water to natural drains, providing humps and crossdrains,  sealing  joints,  and  installing  high-capacity  pumps  at  vulnerable sites.

The  methodologies  of  bridge  rehabilitation  works  are  provided  in  Indian Railway  Bridge  Manual  (IRBM).  Adherence  to  the  quality  assurance  plan (QAP), inspection &  testing plan (ITP) is ensured through contract management and general and special conditions of contract.

The retention of security deposit till defect liability period, penal provisions like  termination  of  contract  have  been  incorporated  for  accountability  of executing agency. Completion of Bridge works depends on various factors like  location,  type,  approval  of  schemes,  availability  of  approach  road, duration of working season in a year due to climatic conditions, availability of blocks, imposition of speed restrictions etc.

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