Page 23 - NIS English May16-31

REDUCING TRAVEL TIME...

Length of bridge: 359-metre-high 28,660 MT steel used

1,315 metre Arch Bridge on Chenab It is 1,315-metre-long and the
River is the highest railway design life of the bridge is 120 years
bridge in the world. It is 35
Cost of project metres higher than the iconic For the first time in India,
27,949 Crore Eiffel Tower in Paris (France) bridge designed for blast load in
consultation with DRDO

Its most challenging task was to construct an arch wind speed up to 266 km/hour. This area of Reasi
bridge over the Chenab River, which is completed. falls in seismic zone-4, but this bridge is designed
The bridge, which connects Kashmir Valley to to bear earthquake forces of highest intensity
other parts of the country, will see trains running zone-V. Construction of bridge involved fabrication
up at a speed of about 100 kmph in August 2022. of 28,660 MT steel, it is 1,315-metre-long and the
After completion of this project, there will be direct design life of the bridge is 120 years. Bridge is
rail connectivity from Kashmir to Kanyakumari. designed to bear earthquake forces of highest
The project is being constructed at a cost of Rs intensity. For the first time in India, Phased Array
27,949 Crore, and this 272-km rail link is passing Ultrasonic Testing machine was used for testing
through the Himalayas and deep valleys which of welds. The largest foundation of this bridge is
is challenging. 927 bridges, 38 tunnels are being the size of the S-4 which is equal to one-third of
constructed to complete the link. At the same a football field. A 915-metre-long cable crane was
time, a 205-km-long approach road has been installed across the river, which is the tallest cable
constructed for the project, which will also provide crane in the world, to assist in the construction of
road connectivity to about 1.5 Lakh people in the the bridge. 10 Lakh cubic metre earthwork and
area. “Railways brings with it social and economic 66,000 cubic metre concrete is used in this bridge.
development, and at the same time increases “Connectivity projects are going to change both the
facilities, and living standards. Along with the arch picture and fortune of the state. I have seen pictures
bridge being constructed on the Chenab River, of the spectacular railway bridge on Chenab.
the construction of the road network has brought Whose heads will not be held high in pride by
about a major change in the lives of its residents. looking at those pictures? The Railways are geared
The construction of the arch of this project was up to connect the Valley with the rail network in the
completed,” said Union Railway Minister Piyush next 2-3 years,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said.
Goyal. This rail link is making the dream of “Ek Bharat,
Shreshtha Bharat” come true. The iconic Arch
ARCH BRIDGE IS TALLER THAN EIFFEL TOWER Bridge on River Chenab will connect the Kashmir
An important construction milestone, this Valley to the rest of the nation. This railway line will
1.3-km-long bridge on Katra-Banihal section has also be helpful for the armed forces of the country
a height of 359 metres which is more than the as this region has strategic importance due to two
Eiffel Tower in France. Chenab Bridge, the world’s international borders. The railway line will provide
highest railway bridge, was completed using state- transportation facility in all seasons to remote
of-the-art technology. Total length of the bridge is areas of Jammu & Kashmir ensuring comfort and
1.315 km and there are a total of 17 spans. Length saving time. At the same time, the project will boost
of the main arch span is 467 metres, and it weighs the tourism industry and increase employment
10,619 MT. Bridge designed to withstand high opportunities for the people of the region.

New India Samachar 21