3,758 rail bridges repaired in last 5 years: Minister

The government on Wednesday said that about 3,758 rail bridges have been repaired by the Indian Railways in the last five years.

"During last five years from 2013-14 to 2017-18, a total of 3,758 bridges have been repaired or strengthened or rehabilitated or rebuilt on Indian Railways," Minister of State for Railways Rajen Gohain said in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha.

He said that as on April 1, 2018, a total of 4,027 Railway bridges have been sanctioned for repairing, strengthening, rehabilitation or rebuilding.

According to the Railway Ministry, the age of the bridge does not have any direct relevance to their physical condition.

"There is a well established system of inspection of bridges in Indian Railways. All the bridges are inspected twice a year, one before the onset of monsoon and one detailed inspection after," he said.

He also said that certain bridges are also inspected more frequently depending upon their condition.

"If the corrective or remedial measures are expected to take a long duration due to the complexity of the site situation, etc., suitable safety measures like imposing speed restrictions and keeping such bridge under close watch are taken till the bridge is repaired," the Minister added.

--IANS

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