A structural audit of the Signature Bridge conducted in July has found severe corrosion in parts of its skywalk ramp, deterioration of foundation protection and a largely non-functional Bridge Health Monitoring System (BHMS), prompting the Delhi government to begin a comprehensive maintenance and rehabilitation programme.
The report found severe corrosion, rust scaling and coating failure in portions of the skywalk ramp steelwork, particularly around joints, splices and fasteners, and recommended detailed assessment and rehabilitation. The BHMS was also found to be largely non-functional, with several sensors damaged or missing and others operating in passive mode. The assessment, made public on August 25, carried out after the bridge was handed over to the Delhi Public Works Department (PWD) a few months ago by the tourism department, covered its superstructure, foundations, bearings, expansion joints, steel deck, 154-metre-high pylon, stay cables, approach structures, skywalk ramp, glass facade and BHMS, officials said.
Officials said the findings do not pose any immediate structural safety risk to the bridge.
The government has proposed an overhaul of the BHMS involving sensors for structural temperature, strain, wind, displacement, acceleration, inclination, corrosion, traffic and force, besides a new data-acquisition system and control-room setup. The BHMS uses sensors to monitor the structural integrity of large infrastructure projects such as bridges. Since taking over the bridge, the PWD has been monitoring the system and should receive real-time structural health reports, but these are currently not being generated. The sensors will need to be repaired, while the software governing the system may also need to be upgraded if it has become obsolete. “Signature Bridge is one of Delhi’s most important landmarks and a critical part of the city’s transport infrastructure. The report proposed monthly routine inspections, detailed inspections every six months and specialised inspections after extreme weather events, flooding, accidents or other incidents affecting structural integrity, along with a five-year preventive and corrective maintenance programme.
The sensors on the Signature Bridge have been non-functional for at least a couple of years, according to officials. PWD minister Parvesh Verma said the department was systematically addressing maintenance requirements after taking over the bridge. It is important to recognise that the bridge was handed over to PWD only a few months ago, and our government is now addressing the maintenance requirements systematically,” Verma said. The government said concealed or inaccessible defects could not be ruled out without specialised testing. Earlier reporting noted: According to a senior Delhi government official, the system was found to be largely non-functional, with several sensors damaged, missing or operating in passive mode. Earlier reporting noted: PWD Minister Parvesh Verma said the bridge had been handed over to the department only a few months ago and its maintenance requirements were now being assessed. We will not allow past gaps in maintenance to become future risks,” he said.
Earlier reporting noted: “Every component of the bridge must remain safe, strong and properly maintained.
