World’s tallest Chenab rail arch bridge on Jammu & Kashmir’s Chenab river is an infrastructural marvel in making
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03/05/2021The world’s highest railway bridge is being constructed over Jammu & Kashmir’s Chenab river in Kouri. On Thursday, Union Railways Minister Piyush Goyal dubbed the under-construction structure as an “infrastructural marvel in making” and an “engineering milestone”. Let’s discuss some facts about this engineering marvel.
- The Chenab bridge is 1.315-km-long and is being constructed at a height of 359 meters, which is 35 meters higher than the Eiffel Tower in Paris
- The bridge is made of 63 mm-thick blast-proof steel to withstand explosions
- Built in an earthquake-prone Seismic Zone IV, seismic analysis has also been carried out by various IITs. Reportedly, the bridge will be able to withstand earthquake forces up to Seismic Zone V. Chenab arch bridge can withstand an earthquake of magnitude 8 on the Richter Scale.
- Since the bridge has been built over a deep gorge, the wind will pose a significant threat to the stability of the bridge. To tackle this issue, modern wind tunnel tests were performed in Denmark to finalize the design and make sure that the is able to withstand wind velocity up to 266 kmph.
- It’s made up of steel arches, whereas the mountain slopes supporting the foundations of the main arch have been stabilized.
- Although touted as an engineering marvel, it has missed several deadlines for completion due to inclement climate, and challenging terrain in the young fold mountains of the Himalayas.
- Reportedly, the bridge will have a lifespan of 120 years and have a design speed of 100 km.
Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla rail link project:
The USBRL is a national project undertaken by the Indian Railways for the construction of a broad-gauge railway line through the Himalayas with the aim of connecting the Kashmir region with the 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.
Work on the intervening 111 km section Katra-Banihal, the most arduous and treacherous portion due to its geology and extensive riverine system replete with deep gorges is ongoing. Most of the rail track is slated to be in tunnels or bridges in this section.
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