Page 29 - NIS English 01-15 February, 2025
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COVER STORY
RAILWAYS' TRANSFORMATION
ANJI KHAD BRIDGE AND CHENAB ARE RAILWAY PROJECTS WORTH MORE
UNMATCHED EXAMPLES OF ENGINEERING THAN RS 70,000 CRORE UNDERWAY
IN ODISHA
Anji Khad Bridge: It is the first cable-based bridge of Indian
PM Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone
Railways. It uses 96 cables weighing 849 metric tons. Anji
of the Raigarh Railway Division in Odisha on
Bridge has been constructed in the Reasi district of Jammu
January 6, 2025. While this will strengthen the
and Kashmir under the most challenging Udhampur-
railway infrastructure of the state, it will also
Srinagar-Baramulla rail link
boost tourism, business, and employment in
project of Indian Railways.
South Odisha. This is the region where a large
This bridge is situated in the
number of tribals live. Odisha has abundant
Himalayan hills which is a
natural resources and a vast coastline.
region of rugged hills and
Due to this, there is a lot of potential for
natural complexities and
international trade here. Several railway
prone to earthquakes. The
projects worth more than Rs 70,000 crore are
length of this bridge is 725.5
underway in the state.
meters. The main bridge
over Anji Khad is a cable-
NEW TERMINAL STATION INAUGURATED
stayed bridge with a total
length of 473.25 meters with a main span of 290 meters. Anji AT CHARLAPALLI, TELANGANA
Khad Bridge connects tunnels T-2 and T-3 on the Katra-
Banihal section of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail PM Narendra Modi inaugurated the
Link Project. Anji Khad bridge has a main pylon 193 meters Charlapalli new terminal station in
high from the top of the foundation which is situated at Telangana. The terminal station has been
a height of 331 meters from the river bed. This bridge is built at a cost of about Rs 413 crore. This
designed to withstand heavy storms blowing at a speed of terminal will promote regional development
213 kmph. Even if 40 kg of explosives are detonated on its by connecting to the Outer Ring Road. This
deck, the bridge will not be damaged. station, connected to the Outer Ring Road,
will greatly promote development in the
Chenab Bridge: The construction of an arch bridge over the region. Modern facilities like lifts, escalators,
Chenab River in the Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir has and solar panels are available on the
been completed, which is the world's highest railway bridge. platform of the station. The new terminal will
Its construction cost Rs 1,486 crore. The length of the bridge reduce congestion pressure on the existing
is 1315 meters and the height of the bridge from the river bed stations of Secunderabad, Hyderabad, and
is 359 meters. The design period of the bridge is 120 years. Kacheguda, thereby making travel more
28,660 metric tons of steel have been used in the construction convenient for people.
of the bridge. Even if the wind blows at a speed of 266
kilometers per hour, there will be no damage to the bridge or
any problem in the movement of trains.
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