IRF India Chapter organized its 9th Webinar of the webinar series, titled “Capacity Augmentation & Service Life Enhancement of Bridges” - Managing assets for maximizing service life and serviceability demands innovative and modern technologies” on 13th May 2025 from 16:00 – 17:30 Hrs. The Webinar was attended by Road Safety Professionals, Research Scholars, Corporates, Highway Engineers, Road Planners, Academician, etc. Prof. P.K. Sikdar, Advisor, IRF-IC, introduced and invited the moderator of the webinar Mr. S. K. Puri, Executive Director, ICT Pvt. Ltd.  Mr. S. K. Puri, welcomed the distinguished Speakers and attendees. The following Speakers made presentations at the Webinar which are available on IRF-IC’s website www.deeppink-spider-459065.hostingersite.com Click Here - Dr. N. Anandavalli, Director, CSIR-Structural Engineering Research Centre, Chennai, stressed that India must shift to smarter solutions for infrastructure monitoring. She highlighted how modern technologies such as advanced instrumentation, AI, and data analysis can help identify internal damages that are often missed during manual inspections. She said that Bridges are the lifelines of our transport networks. Maintaining them in good condition is crucial for both safety and accessibility. She added that environmental factors, water exposure, air pollution, and increasing traffic loads lead to faster deterioration of infrastructure, making timely detection and repair imperative and most important. Using AI-based systems and embedded sensors -- an approach known as Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) -- can allow engineers to detect issues early, understand better the damage patterns, and plan maintenance more effectively. However, Dr. Anandavalli also pointed out a major challenge where, India was importing critical sensors at a very high cost. She opined that it is time we invested in developing our own sensor technology to reduce dependence on imports and make large-scale infrastructure monitoring more affordable. Click Here - Dr. Gopal Rai, CEO, Dhirendra Group of Company (DGC), explained the importance of Bridge Rehabilitation. He highlighted that while SHM systems offer many benefits over traditional inspections, their high cost remains a key hurdle. These technologies are essential for ensuring the safety and extending the lifespan of our bridges and tunnels, but they must become more accessible and affordable for widespread use. He also talked about band stressing method and groove laminate with their applications. Click Here

As part of the Road Safety Month, IRF-IC hosted its 10th lecture on “Safety of Motorised Two-Wheelers in India – How to Tackle it through Road & Vehicle Design Options?”. Dr. Rohit Baluja, President, Institute of Road Traffic Education was the Moderator at the event. Mr. Prashant K. Banerjee, Executive Director, Society of Indian Automobiles Manufacturers and Dr. Ravi Sekhar, Chief Scientist, CSIR – Central Road Research Institute were the Guest Speakers.  Mr. K. K. Kapila, President (Emeritus), IRF & Founder President, IRF-IC delivered the welcoming and opening remarks in the lecture. He mentioned that safe technological systems including ABS brakes for all two-wheelers cannot be ignored. He also stressed on the need for mandating airbags for two-wheelers and the helmets which do not allow a vehicle to start till worn. Dr. Rohit Baluja, emphasized the necessity for designated driving lanes to boost the safety of two-wheeler drivers, who are among the most vulnerable road users alongside pedestrians. He also mentioned that India needs to create its own vehicular safety systems instead of copying others. Click Here Mr. Prashant K. Banerjee, highlighted - India accounts for the highest road fatalities in the world. He also mentioned despite passenger vehicles adhering to best safety norms and having ultra-modern safety features installed, there is a lack of holistic enforcement procedures, a level-playing field and awareness amongst consumers regarding safer mobility. Click Here Dr. Ravi Sekhar, explained importance of Anti-lock Braking System (ABC) and Combined Braking System (CBS). He also addressed Road & Vehicle Design Solutions through IRC:SP:150-2025 Recommended Practices for the Planning and Designing of Motorized Two-Wheeler Lanes. Click Here For full lecture recording and presentation of Dr. Ravi Sekhar, visit IRF-IC’s website at https://www.deeppink-spider-459065.hostingersite.com