The Indian Railways has achieved a milestone by launching the main arch of the world’s highest bridge.
- The bridge is located on the Chenab river in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi district which will provide direct connectivity to the Kashmir Valley.
- The giant bridge will be 359 metres above River Chenab and will be 30 metres higher than the iconic Eiffel Tower in Paris.
- The bridge forms the crucial link in the 111-km stretch between Katra and Banihal which is part of the Udhampur- Srinagar-Baramulla section of the Kashmir Railway project
- The arch is a noteworthy endeavour as it carries heavy segments from two ends of the bridge – Kauri end and Bakkal end – and involves the world longest cable crane arrangement.
- On the other side of Chenab river, the Railways is constructing three big tunnels of various lengths T 2 (5.9 KM), T 3 (9.369 km) and T 14 (13 km).
Details of the Chenab Bridge project (highest rail arch bridge in the world):
It is 1,315 metres long and 359 metres above the river bed.
It is designed to run trains at a top speed of 100 Kmph
It is constructed to cope with a wind velocity of 266 Kmph at deck level.
Ms WSP (Finland), Ms Leonhart Andra and Partners (Germany) and IIS Bangalore are developing this bridge.
Status of the Udhampur Srinagar Baramulla Rail Line (USBRL) Project:
- Total length: 326 Km.
- Total cost: Rs. 19,564 crore
- Katra-Banihal (111 Km): Work in progress; target for completion in 2019. This section will have 27 tunnels, 37 bridges including 97 kilometres of tunnels and seven kilometres of bridges.
- Udhampur-Katra (25 Km): Work completed and commissioned in July 2014.
- Quazikund-Baramulla (118 Km): Work completed and commissioned in phases until October 2009.
- Banihal-Quazikund (18 Km): Work completed and commissioned in June 2013.
