The Chenab Rail Bridge, located in the Jammu and Kashmir region of India, is a remarkable engineering feat and boasts several notable features.
It is the highest railway bridge in the world, with its deck standing 359 metres (1,178 feet) above the riverbed of the Chenab River, surpassing even the height of the Eiffel Tower. It is 35 metres taller than the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
The bridge has a total length of 1,315 metres (4,314 feet). Its main arch span is 467 metres (1,532 feet), making it one of the longest arch spans in the world.
Built primarily using steel, the bridge's design ensures it can withstand high winds of up to 266 km/h and seismic activities. The design is a blend of Indian and European expertise, ensuring both aesthetic appeal and structural integrity.
The bridge is designed with numerous safety features, including sensors to monitor structural health in real-time, fire and explosion-proofing measures and windshields to protect against high winds.
The bridge is part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project, aimed at improving connectivity in the Kashmir Valley, facilitating socio-economic development, and enhancing strategic connectivity for the Indian military.
Construction began in 2004 but faced various challenges, including difficult terrain, harsh weather conditions, and the region's complex geology. The bridge's main arch was completed in April 2021, and the entire project was slated for completion in 2022.
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