Chenab Bridge

INTRODUCTION:

The Chenab Bridge is an Indian Railway bridge that is under construction between Bakkal and Kauri which connects two major parts Jammu and Kashmir with this railway bridge. When completed this will be the World's Highest Rail Bridge with the bridge that will span above the Chenab River at a height of 359 m which is even taller than the Eiffel Tower. This will be 111 km Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail link project has been in the hand of Konkan Rail Corporation Limited with 53.66 km and IRCON with the rest.

WHATS NEW ABOUT IT: 

The main thing is this 1.315 km Arch Shaped Bridge. It will soon claim the record of the world's highest bridge beating China's Shibai Railway Bridge over the Beipan River at 275 m. The Chenab Bridge stretch is 70% ready by this time (31st March). The Engineers said that 'The construction of the bridge is the most challenging part of the Kashmir rail link project undertaken post-independence and once completed it will be an Engineering Marvel.' 

ENGINEERING:

The bridge is so designed as to withstand the extreme climate of Kashmir. It will withstand wind speeds of up to 260 km per hour. Its construction is also a challenge because of the extreme climate. It is a steel-concrete arch bridge with deck height above 359 m and a bridge length of 1315 m including a 650 m long viaduct on the northern side. Arch span is 467 m and arch length of 480 m which makes this bridge the widest span in the Indian Broad Gauge Railway Network. The bridge was originally intended to be completed in December 2009. However, the construction of the bridge was halted in 2008 due to fears over the bridge's stability and safety. Let's talk about the design of the bridge which made it stable and ready for construction.

DESIGN:

The bridge was designed as a large span single arch steel bridge with approach viaducts on either side. The arch is two-ribbed, fabricated from large steel trusses. The fabricated truss boxes are filled with concrete to assist in controlling wind-induced forces on the bridge and another advantage of the concrete filling is that internal painting will not be required. As this is a continuous construction, it reduces the maintenance and inspection efforts and improves the riding quality.