In the middle of the mighty Himalayas in Indian-administered Kashmir lies the world’s highest railway bridge. The distant area will be connected to India's extensive railway network by the 1,315-meter-long (4,314-foot) and 359-meter-high (1,177-foot) bridge over the Chenab River, which offers all-weather access.
The bridge, taller than the Eiffel Tower in Paris, lies between the villages of Bakkal and Kauri in Reasi district of the southern Jammu area of Kashmir. The steel arch bridge, which weighs 28,000 tonnes, is regarded as an engineering miracle because it was constructed in a region with a lot of seismic activity. In addition to frequent landslides and severe weather, the rocky and uneven terrain.
The 119 km-long railway project comprises 38 tunnels and 931 bridges having a combined length of 13 km to make the railway link possible.
Prior to its construction, the engineers had to make a 26 km approach road and a 400-metre-long (1,300 feet) tunnel to reach the site of the bridge.
While inspecting the completion of the bridge last month, Ashwini Vaishnaw, India’s railway minister said, “This bridge and the other tunnels were difficult because this whole area is a highly seismic prone area. To strengthen it from any seismic activity special strengthening technology has been used.”
The bridge, official documents say, has been built to withstand strong winds and high-magnitude earthquakes. “This project has been the most daunting work undertaken by post-independence Indian Railways,” an engineer working on the project told the media. “The completion of the bridge also shows vast advancement in India’s engineering technology,” he added.