The world’s highest railway bridge over river Chenab in Jammu and Kashmir
Team News Riveting
New Delhi, December 30
The world’s highest railway bridge over river Chenab in Jammu and Kashmir is nearing completion as Indian Railways has expedited work to connect the Valley with the rest of India by train for the first time by 2022.
The bridge, which has a central span of 467 metres, is being built at a height of 359 metres from the bed level. The height of Qutab Minar in Delhi is 72 metres and that of the Eiffel Tower in Paris is 324 metres.
This will be the tallest railway bridge in the world and the maximum design wind speed for the bridge is 266 kmph.
The construction work of the bridge was accelerated in the last one year under the direct supervision of Railway Minister Piyush Goyal and top officials. IRCON, KRCL and Northern Railway with extensive experience in construction of rail lines are involved in this project.
Many international agencies and premier Indian institutes like IIT Roorkee, IIT Delhi, DRDO and Geological Survey of India are providing expertise in planning and implementation. Several sets of tunnelling machineries and cranes have also been imported.
Goyal reviewed the progress of USBRL (Udhampur Srinagar Baramulla Rail Link), a National project undertaken by the Indian Railways for construction of broad-gauge railway line through the Himalayas with the aim of connecting the Kashmir region with rest of the country. The all-weather, comfortable, convenient and cost effective mass transportation system will be the catalyst for the overall development of the northernmost alpine region of the country.
Presently 95 per cent of the Arch work of the Chenab Bridge, world’s tallest railway bridge is complete while the work on the Anji bridge, an asymmetric cable stayed bridge is on in full swing. 81.21Km of the total 97.64 Km main tunnelling and 53.50 Km out of 60.5 Km escape tunnel works have been completed. 12 mega and 10 minor bridges have been completed. Laying of the remaining 12 mega bridges and one more minor bridge is to be completed by 2021-22.
