Guwahati, Dec 12: The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has joined hands with the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IIT-G) to develop and implement cutting-edge AI-based technologies for automated bridge monitoring and robotic underwater bridge maintenance across the Northeast.
This partnership aims to modernize railway infrastructure while ensuring safety, efficiency, and sustainability.
A high-level technical discussion and demonstration session was held at the NFR (Construction) headquarters in Maligaon, Guwahati, where the state-of-the-art technologies were explored -advanced underwater inspection and maintenance system, utilising robotics and AI systems for underwater railway bridge maintenance and capable of detecting faults and performing retrofitting tasks in challenging underwater environments.
The meeting also took up the issues like Command Centre-Based Predictive Maintenance System aimed at automatic monitoring of railway bridges using predictive analytics and enhancing bridge safety by identifying potential issues before they escalate into serious problems.
The partnership between NFR and IIT-G marks a significant milestone in integrating academic research with real-world applications. The collaboration was formalized through recent Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs), underscoring the commitment of both institutions to innovation and infrastructure modernization.
The session was attended by Chetan Kumar Shrivastava, General Manager, NFR, Arun Kumar Chaudhary, General Manager (Construction), NFR and senior professors from IIT Guwahati, alongside other senior NFR officials.
This collaboration focuses on leveraging advanced technologies to address critical challenges in bridge maintenance and monitoring, including improved safety through proactive and automated systems, enhanced efficiency with robotics reducing manual labour in hazardous conditions and sustainable practices aligned with modern infrastructure development goals.
By blending academic expertise with practical implementation, the NFR-IIT Guwahati collaboration sets a benchmark for innovative solutions in India’s railway sector. These technologies are expected to transform bridge management systems, making them smarter, safer, and more efficient, while reinforcing India’s commitment to infrastructure advancement.
