20
2017
what is new ?
World’s Highest Railway Bridge in India
World’s highest railway bridge
which will be 35 metres taller
than the Eiffel Tower is to come
up over the Chenab River in
Jammu and Kashmir at a cost
of around Rs. 1,100 crore in
around two years from now.
The bridge will connect Bakkal
(Katra) and Kauri (Srinagar).
The bridge will be a part of the
Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla
rail link project. Once com-
pleted, the bridge will be an
engineering marvel. The
project is expected to be com-
pleted by 2019. After comple-
tion of the bridge it will surpass
the record of the Beipan river
Shuibai railway bridge (275 m)
in China. The bridge is ex-
pected to contribute to the eco-
nomic development of the state
and improve its accessibility.
The new railway bridge will be
of an arch-shaped structure in
hostile terrain. It will be constructed using over 24,000 tonnes of steel and will rise 359 m above the river
bed. Steel has been chosen as the construction material as it would be cheap and would be able to resist
temperatures of -20 degrees Celsius and wind speeds of above 250 kmph. The design of the bridge will be
such that it will be able to withstand wind speed of up to 260 kmph. Security features The Indian Railways is
also planning to install sensors on the bridge to check the wind velocity. The sensors will turn the track signal
red to prevent the train movement if the wind speed exceeds 90 kmph. The bridge will be constructed using
a 63mm thick special blast-proof steel to make the bridge to withstand terrorist attacks as the region is
prone to frequent terror attacks. In addition, the concrete pillars of the bridge will be designed to withstand
explosions. A ring of aerial security will be provided to safeguard the bridge. In addition, to safeguard the
passengers and train at crucial times online monitoring and warning system will be installed on the bridge.