PM Modi Inaugurates World's Highest Railway Bridge Over Chenab

Katra, June 6 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the world's highest railway bridge over the Chenab River, a project completed at a cost of Rs 1,486 crore over more than eight years. After the inauguration, Modi walked across the bridge carrying the tricolour.

Following the unveiling of the Chenab Bridge, PM Modi also launched India's first cable-stayed rail bridge over the Anji river. The Prime Minister reached the site in a rail engine coach to participate in the inauguration ceremonies.

The event was also attended by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.

The remarkable Chenab Rail Bridge stands 359 metres above the river, towering 35 metres higher than Paris's iconic Eiffel Tower. It spans 1,315 metres and is engineered to endure seismic activities and strong winds. This bridge is a vital link in the 111-km railway stretch from Katra to Banihal. Though construction was approved in 2002, work only commenced in 2017. Prior to the bridge's construction, 26 km of access roads and a 400-metre-long tunnel were built, railway officials reported.

The cable crane was put into operation on August 31, 2013, to assist in erecting the steel arch, trestles, and piers. In 2017, the Indian Railways successfully executed an incremental launch over a circular curve of 2.74 degrees and a transition curve measuring 268 metres for the first time.

The joining of the 467-metre-long arch span represented a critical task, requiring high precision to ensure the two ends met flawlessly, allowing for a perfect fit of its last segment. The arch closure took place in April 2021, while the 'Golden Joint' of the deck was another significant milestone. The 785-metre-long deck superstructure, launched from both the Kauri and Bakkal ends, was eventually joined over the arch, marked by the 'Golden Joint' ceremony on August 13, 2022.

The Anji Bridge ranks as the second-highest railway bridge, following the Chenab arch bridge at Kauri. In October 2016, Indian Railway opted for a cable-stayed bridge at Anji Khad, abandoning plans for an arch bridge due to concerns about geological stability in the region.

This asymmetric cable-stayed bridge traverses the deep gorges of the Anji river, a Chenab tributary, situated in the young fold mountains of the Himalayas. It features complex and fragile geological attributes, including faults, folds, and thrusts, and is in a seismically prone area.

According to railway officials, the bridge extends 725 metres and includes an ancillary viaduct, an approach bridge, and a central embankment. It is designed to withstand heavy storms, strong winds, and even explosions. The bridge's total deck width is 15 metres, supported by 96 cables ranging from 82 to 295 metres in length.