Iconic arch of world’s highest bridge over Chenab completed

Tribune News Service
New Delhi, April 5

In what could place Jammu and Kashmir on the global civil engineering map, the Railways on Monday announced the completion of an iconic 1.5-km arch over the world’s highest rail bridge being built across the Chenab.

HIMALAYAN WONDER

The construction of the bridge involves fabrication of 28,660 MT steel and 26 km motorable road. The height of cable crane’s pylon at Srinagar end is 127m, much taller than Qutub Minar (72m).

The 359-metre-high bridge, expected to be built in a year, is the most significant part of the ongoing Rs 27,929 crore Udhampur-Baramulla railway link connecting Kashmir to Kanyakumari.

Once completed, the bridge across the Katra-Banihal section will be the highest rail bridge in the world—1,315 km long with 17 spans and will be able to withstand wind speed up to 266 km an hour. It will be 35 metres higher than the Eiffel Tower once constructed and will be a major symbol of India’s self-reliance. The main arch of the bridge weighs 10,619 metric tonnes. Railway Minister Piyush Goyal today announced the completion of the main arch of this rail bridge. “With the construction the arch, the Railways have set an important milestone. This was one of the most difficult parts of the bridge. The achievement is a major leap towards the completion of the 111-km-long winding stretch from Katra to Banihal,” he said. The Railways completed the project on time despite Covid-19 challenges.

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