Guwahati, May 3: In a major breakthrough for railway infrastructure maintenance, the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has teamed up with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati to create an advanced paint technology aimed at preventing moss buildup on railway bridges—a persistent issue in the region’s damp, humid climate.
The innovation stems from an initiative led by NFR general manager Chetan Kumar Shrivastava, who tasked his team with finding a long-term solution to the problem.
Acting on this directive, NFR’s principal chief engineer Sandeep Sharma collaborated with IIT Guwahati’s Dr. Vimal Katiyar to develop a high-performance paint system that resists moss and biofilm formation on bridge surfaces.
These biological growths, common in the Northeastern climate, not only tarnish the appearance of infrastructure but also accelerate corrosion, undermining bridge safety over time. The new paint formulation directly addresses this risk.
The paint features a specialized chemical structure and a functionalized coating with an exterior lamination layer that inhibits moss growth and corrosion. Beyond aesthetics, it’s engineered to extend the lifespan of bridges and drastically reduce maintenance costs—ensuring greater safety and reliability for the region’s railway network.
This project is a prime example of how industry-academia partnerships can tackle real-world engineering challenges. By combining IIT Guwahati’s research strength with NFR’s field experience, the initiative offers a scalable model for modernizing infrastructure in climatically vulnerable zones.
The anti-moss paint marks a significant step forward not just in preserving vital railway assets, but also in setting a precedent for future collaborations focused on sustainable, technology-driven solutions in public infrastructure.
