Page 47 - 10 Booming Real Estate & Logistics Companies in APAC 2022

TRAVEL

The Chenab bridge, a rail bridge A piece in Daily Pioneer reads, “The
under construction by Indian Rail- light at the end of the tunnel is now

ways (IR) between Bakkal and Kauri in visible. The imposing steel arch of
Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi district, the bridge across the river Chenab
has become part of the country’s has finally been completed. Not with
engineering folklore. This magnif-
icent arch bridge has become a standing various delays in the way,

symbol of a resurrected India, and this event in itself is a big achieve-
not just because it is the mainstay ment and a firm step forward to
for seamless railway connectivity to achieve the dream of linking Kashmir
the Kashmir valley. Its magnificent valley with the rest of the country.
arch, which is far higher than the tip
of the Eiffel Tower, and the fact that There is not an iota of doubt that

it would be the world’s tallest rail this project task required great
bridge have come to proudly embody engineering skills right from design
Indian engineers’ skill and proficiency. to fabrication to erection etc. The
task of construction of the bridge

“INFRASTRUCTURE MARVEL IN has also been in the same league.
THE MAKING” The bridge is the most challenging

The bridge has been described as a and fascinating structure of
“infrastructure marvel in the making” Udhampur- Srinagar- Baramulla rail
by a number of railway ministers and link project. The steel arch bridge, most challenging task has been to withstand wind speeds of over
government/IR officials. For nearly amidst Hills of mighty Himalayas build two foundations for the arch, 266 kmph, an unprecedented feat.

two decades, we’ve been hearing engorging the serpentine Chenab which required massive special- This work involved approximately

about this bridge. It was supposed to River is indeed a symbol of technical
be finished in 2009, but the project ized soil /rock strengthening work 30,000 MT high quality steel fabri-
was halted in 2008 due to concerns excellence of Indian Engineers. It is in the young Himalayan region. cation and sophisticated launching
about its stability. Following a re-ex- 1315 metre long with, with an arch The steel pier at Katra end foun- scheme. The entire fabrication of
amination of the issue, construction span of 467 meter and stands 359 dation of arch itself is about 120 steel work is being done at a special
was restarted, and the completion m high above the river. At both m tall. Besides the arch, the other fabrication workshop established
date has been slipping since then, end of the arch, there is viaduct most challenging task has been to

from the initial 2015 to 2021 to last portion and the complete configu- build two foundations for the arch, at site. The launching of the arch
year. As all of these targets were ration of the bridge is a compound segments was done with the help
missed, and IR continued to extol and complex structure. Over the which required massive special- of a specially-designed wire rope
the project’s enormity in the media, central arch, there are eleven steel ized soil /rock strengthening work crane and after fixing every piece
a sense of cynical and sneaky déjà in the young Himalayan region. of arch and the cantilever arch was

vu became palpable among the piers supporting 10 spans of 48 m.
general public. A signature project The steel pier at Katra end foun- Apart from being the highest rail tied with wire ropes to hold them
was in the danger of becoming a dation of arch itself is about 120 bridge in the world, it has many in position, till the last central
victim of its overhyped narrative. m tall. Besides the arch, the other firsts to its credit. The bridge can piece was inserted in position.”

|46 thecorporatereview.com | India | Vol. 3 | Issue 5| July 2022 |47