Bridge Inventory and Condition Rating System (BICRS)

Prelims – Current events of national and international importance; Economic and Social Development.

Mains (GS IV) – Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.

Why in News?

• Launched by – National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).
• It is a ranking mechanism to rate NHAI’s infrastructure assets to determine their structural safety and look for remedial measures for their upkeep and regular monitoring.

National Highway Authority of India was set up NHAI Act, 1988 to provide for the constitution of an Authority for the development, maintenance and management of national highways and for matter connected therewith.

• Aim – To prepare a unified repository of all its structures, and each property will be assigned a union assessment identification number.
• Development – Based on input from its design division to ensure the systematic management and safety of infrastructure assets.
• Mandate – Comprehensive documentation, assessment, and inspection of bridges twice a year.
• Key features – Systematic evaluation of health based on predetermined rating parameters.
• Identification of structures that require immediate remedial measures, including the imposition of traffic restrictions or suspension of heavy vehicle traffic.
• Functions – It will record comprehensive structural specifications, geographical coordinates, AS-IS drawings, and other related documentation.

AS-IS is documentation of the measurements and elements of an existing building.

• This data is used in the context of renovation.
• Implementation – The engineers will record structural specifications and details of all projects, and the first inspection of structures must be completed before the monsoon.
• The project director will cross-check the data prepared by the engineers during their monthly inspections and make observations if discrepancies are found in records and the physical state.
• Importance – It ensures systematic management and safety of infrastructure assets.

Reference

The New Indian Express| Launch of Bridge Inventory and Condition Rating System (BICRS)