Bringing India Closer with the World’s Highest Railway Bridge Constructed in Jammu and Kashmir
The Indian Railway is holding steadfast to the commitment of our Prime Minister Narendra Modi who wanted to integrate Jammu and Kashmir with the rest of India. To further this mission, Indian Railways undertook the Jammu-Udhampur- Srinagar- Baramulla Rail Line (JUSBRL) Project aimed to provide a reliable and faster means of transportation throughout Jammu and Kashmir and with the rest of India. This was declared a National Project in 2002 after being suspended in 2008 due to construction challenges.
This project includes laying of the 272 Km long railway line between Udhampur to Baramulla out of which 161 Km has already been completed. It also mandated the construction of several bridges and tunnels along the route, including the Chenab Bridge. It spans across the deep Chenab River to provide access to the Kashmir Valley from Udhampur.
But it is no ordinary rail bridge…
This Chenab Bridge is considered an architectural marvel as it is situated at a height of 359m with an arch span of 467m and is 35m higher than the Eifel Tower in Paris. A bridge of this kind has no precedence in India. Therefore, during design, collaboration with reputed national & international experts was done to learn from their experiences regarding construction of this mammoth structure.
Steel was chosen to construct the bridge as it was more economical and will be able to resist temperatures of -20°C and wind speeds exceeding 200km/h. 28660 MT of steel and more than 67000 cum of concrete has been used in Bridge construction till now.
The J&K region witnesses frequent terrorist attacks. To enhance safety and security, the bridge is made of 63mm-thick special blast-proof steel. The concrete pillars of the bridge are designed to withstand explosions. It is expected that the structure will be able to withstand earthquakes of magnitude eight on Richter Scale and up to 40kg of TNT blasts.
This bridge became the testament to many firsts in the history of Indian Railways. Since there is no precedence of such a railway bridge in Indian Railways, that is why for the first time, a NABL accredited lab was setup on site to test the welded elements. Concrete filled arch in the Chenab Bridge is first of its kind in India. Because of the enormous stature of the bridge being build, Indian Railways has provided Power operated cars for inspection and maintenance for the first time. For State of Art Instrumentation, a continuous health monitoring and warning system is being established.
This iconic Chenab bridge is expected to be fully operational by 2024. The bridge will be protected by a ring of aerial security. To safeguard the passengers and train in critical circumstances, a bridge-mounted online monitoring and warning system will be deployed. Alongside it, there will be footpaths and cycling tracks. A special 15-year corrosion-resistant paint will be used to paint the bridge.
Scheduled to enter service in 2024, the Chenab Bridge will have a lifespan of 120 years. It will contribute to local economic development and better transportation accessibility in the region.
