What is a Bailey bridge?

About Bailey bridge:

• It is a type of modular bridge, one whose parts are pre-built so that they need minimal construction work and can be assembled quickly when needed.
• Origin: A US Army Engineer School manual notes that the Bailey bridge originated during wartime. Donald Coleman Bailey, an English civil engineer, invented it during World War 2 (1939-45).
• How the Bailey bridge works?
  • The pre-fabricated parts in a Bailey bridge include light steel panels linked through pins, which are big, screw-like objects.
  • These help establish the guardrails of the bridge. Through the guardrails on either side, workers place beams to form the deck or path of the bridge.
  • All beams were constructed such that they would lock in on the guardrails to ensure stability.
  • After that, the bridge can be extended, and the lightness of the parts allows it to be mobile.
  • No heavy installation equipment is needed. In disaster relief situations, this is ideal because parts can be transported in small trucks — something also of use during wartime.

Key facts about Madras Sappers

• The Madras Sappers is an engineering group of the Corps of Engineers of the Indian Army, which originated in the erstwhile Madras Presidency army of the British Raj.
• This regiment has its headquarters in Bengaluru.
• The Madras Sappers were the only regiment of the Madras Presidency Army to survive the reorganisations that took place between 1862 and 1928.