Chenab bridge, the world’s highest railway bridge, is all set to be completed in March 2021.
On the construction of this engineering marvel, Minister of State for Home Affairs G. Kishan Reddy had said in Parliament:
“Since the last two years, speedy development is happening in Jammu and Kashmir, when compared to the last 70 years. Both the Centre and the J&K government are trying to develop the region and will do more.”
The length of the Chenab bridge will be 1,315 metres with 17 spans.
Out of this the span of the main arch across Chenab river will be 467 metres.
Railways minister Piyush Goyal said on Twitter: “Infrastructural Marvel in Making: Indian Railways is well on track to achieve another engineering milestone with the steel arch of Chenab bridge reaching at closure position. It is all set to be the world’s highest Railway bridge.”
According to Konkan Railway Corporation Limited (KRCL) officials, the Chenab bridge is being constructed 359 metres above Chenab’s river bed and will be 35 metres taller than the Eiffel Tower (which has a height of 324 metre).
Modern wind tunnel tests were performed in Denmark to finalise the design.
Chenab bridge is made up of steel arches.
The slopes of the mountains supporting the foundations of the main arch have been stabilised.
This bridge will also have a “security setup” against possible threats from terrorists and earthquakes.
The bridge will be a key link in the 111-km stretch between Katra and Banihal which is part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla section of the Kashmir Railway project.
Apart from the Chenab bridge, this rail link will also feature India’s longest railway tunnel (T-49) at 12.75 kilometres.
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