India's PM Narendra Modi has inaugurated the world's tallest railway bridge over the Chenab River and the country's first cable-stayed Anji Bridge. For the first time, the Vande Bharat Express train received the green signal from the PM to embark. Situated in Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi district, this bridge is part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla rail link (USBRL) project. Let's delve into some special features of this bridge...
Soaring Above the Eiffel Tower
The Chenab Bridge, crafted from steel and concrete, connects the villages of Bakyal and Kauri in Reasi. Looming over the Chenab River, its majestic height of 359 meters (roughly 1,178 feet) is 35 meters taller than the iconic Eiffel Tower and about five times the height of Delhi's Qutub Minar. Extending 1,315 meters or nearly 4,314 feet, it's the tallest bridge of its kind globally.
Source: aajtak
A Massive 30 Thousand Metric Ton Construction
The Chenab Bridge, requiring a substantial investment, employed vast quantities of bolts, steel, and concrete. Approximately 28,660 to 30,000 metric tons of steel and 46,000 cubic meters of concrete were used in its construction, alongside over 600,000 bolts. Ingeniously designed with arch technology, no pillars disrupt the river's flow beneath.
Source: aajtak
The Financial Blueprint
The cost of realizing the Chenab Bridge reached 1486 crore rupees (about 180 million). It received approval in 2003 during the tenure of then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, with work commencing in 2004. Despite facing numerous challenges and some delays, the base was completed in 2017 and the main arch was finished by April 2021. By August 2022, the bridge was fully prepared.
Designed to Withstand Explosions and Quakes
Engineered to endure winds of 266 km/h, earthquakes of magnitude 8 on the Richter scale, and blasts equivalent to 40 tons of TNT, the Chenab Bridge is built to last 120-125 years. Special paint augments its immunity against corrosion for up to 20 years.
Connecting in Just 3 Hours
The Chenab Bridge crosses the Chenab River in Jammu and Kashmir, linking Sangaldan and Reasi railway stations. As a crucial part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla rail link (USBRL), it connects Kashmir Valley with Delhi and other key cities, allowing the Vande Bharat train to cover the distance between Katra and Srinagar in just 3 hours.
