New Delhi: India has several fascinating bridges which stand as architectural marvels. For example, the Howrah Bridge in Kolkata is known for its awe-inspiring structure and engineering brilliance. However, among the many bridges in India, the one which is probably the most interesting is the Chenab Rail Bridge. In case you are wondering why, it is the world’s highest rail bridge and the world’s highest arch bridge. In this article, we will take a look at some of the fascinating aspects of the Chenab Rail Bridge.
Chenab Rail Bridge: A project envisaged in 2004
In early August 2004, the Indian Railways undertook one of the most ambitious projects in its history. Declared as a national project, it involved the construction of a new railway line from the Udhampur town to Baramulla district in Jammu. It would have number of tunnels and bridges, culminating in the construction of a new steel arch bridge over the Chenab river’s deep gorge. It was a monumental project, one that the Indian Railways brought into reality.
A bridge in a tectonically active zone
The significance of the Chenab Bridge increases manifold when we take into consideration the fact that the structures is located in a terrain which is tectonically active and geologically complex. Many earthquakes have taken place in the region and it also faces the danger of seismic threat. IIT Delhi, IIT Roorkee and IISc Bangalore carried out detailed seismic hazard analysis. The bridge can withstand earthquakes up to a magnitude of 8 on the Richter scale, blasts of high-intensity, and winds up to speeds of 260 kilometre per hour.
A bridge taller than the Eiffel Tower
The bridge spans the Chenab River at a height of 359 m above the river, making it the highest rail bridge and the highest arch bridge in the world. Interestingly, it is even taller than the Eiffel Tower in Paris which is is 330 metres in height. To put into perspective, the Eiffel Tower is about the same height as an 81-storey building.
The tenure of the construction
The bridge forms the crucial link on the 111 km stretch between Katra and Banihal, which is part of the Kashmir Railway project’s Udhampur- Srinagar-Baramulla section. In November 2017, the base supports were completed after which the construction of the main arch began. In April 2021, the arch of the Chenab Rail Bridge was completed and in August 2022, the overall bridge was completed.
The design of the Chenab Rail Bridge
The design of the Chenab Rail Bridge is that of a large span single arch steel bridge and on the either side, there are approach viaducts. The arch is two-ribbed and large steel trusses have been used to fabricate it. Sealed steel boxes have been used for the chords of the trusses, internally stiffened and filled with concrete to control forces induced by wind on the bridge. Also, concrete filling means that internal painting will not be required.
The Chenab Rail Bridge in India is a remarkable feat of engineering, standing as the world’s highest rail and arch bridge at 359 meters. Its construction overcame significant challenges including the bridge’s location in a seismically active zone. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
