Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated the world's highest single-arch railway bridge in Indian-administered Kashmir. This monumental infrastructure project is poised to revolutionise connectivity and foster development in the region. This architectural marvel, built over the Chenab River, stands an astonishing 35 meters (114 feet) taller than the Eiffel Tower. It marks the first time that the Kashmir valley will be connected to the rest of the country by train, a long-awaited milestone after more than 20 years of construction by the Indian Railways.
Overcomes immense challenges
The construction of the Chenab Bridge was a formidable undertaking, described by the government as the ‘biggest civil-engineering challenge faced by any railway project in India in recent history’. Commissioned in 2003, the project was complicated by the area's rough terrain, safety concerns, and legal actions. Engineers faced the daunting task of building the bridge without obstructing the Chenab River's flow. Early stages of the infrastructure project's construction even required engineers to work on foot or with a mule due to the region's inaccessibility and limited highways, posing significant logistical challenges.
A key figure in the bridge's successful completion was Professor G. Madhavi Latha from the Indian Institute of Science in Bengaluru. As a geotechnical consultant, she was involved for 17 years in the Chenab Bridge project, working closely with Afcons, the contractor, in the planning, design and construction of the structure, focusing on the obstacles posed by the terrain. Her team adopted a “design-as-you-go approach” to overcome all obstacles. Dr Latha's contributions included advice on the design and placement of rock anchors to improve stability. In her recently published paper ‘Design as You Go: The Case Study of Chenab Railway Bridge’, describes how the design of the bridge has evolved continuously to suit the geological conditions of the site. Notably, many of the bridge's parts were built and manufactured locally. The bridge was built at a cost of £148.6mn.
Strategic implications and future prospects
Beyond its engineering prowess, the Chenab Bridge carries significant strategic implications, particularly in the context of military and counter-terrorism efforts. Built with inputs from the Indian Institute of Technology and the Defence Research and Development Organisation and global experts, the Chenab Bridge uses high-tensile steel and advanced cable-crane systems. It is designed to withstand earthquakes of 8.0 magnitude and even terrorist bombing attempts, featuring 24/7 surveillance cameras, anti-corrosion technologies and blast-resistant materials. This robust infrastructure is seen as a direct counter to past attempts by Pakistan to exploit difficult terrain and porous routes to fuel unrest in the valley. As a senior Indian Army official deployed in the region stated, “They tried to divide us by using religion and terror. We are responding with steel, resolve and railways,”. The bridge is designed to last 120 years even under wind speeds of 260 kmph.
The bridge is a vital part of a 272km (169 miles) all-weather railway line that will pass through Jammu, ultimately going all the way to the Kashmir valley. This 272 km Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla railway link (USBRL) connects the Kashmir Valley to the Indian rail grid for the first time.
Prime Minister Modi, marking his first visit to Jammu and Kashmir after a tragic terror attack, inaugurated the Chenab Bridge as part of the Udhampur-Banihal railway project. During the event, PM Modi also flagged off the Anji Bridge, India’s first cable-stayed railway bridge. The new infrastructure will not only improve connectivity between the Kashmir Valley and the rest of India but is also expected to drive growth in trade, tourism, and industrial development in the region. Additionally, PM Modi inaugurated a £4.6bn project in the region and flagged off the Vande Bharat Express, which will reduce the travel time between Jammu and Srinagar to just 3 hours. This enhanced connectivity is projected to usher in a new era of growth and integration for the region. PM Modi emphasised that acts of violence were aimed at disturbing the harmony of the region and undermining the tourism and livelihoods of the people of Kashmir, reinforcing India's commitment to the region's harmony and development.
