Chenab Rail Bridge: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the world’s tallest Chenab rail bridge in Jammu and Kashmir on June 6. Along with this, the Vande Bharat train running between Katra and Srinagar will also be flagged off. On this historic occasion, the Prime Minister also launched development projects worth more than Rs 46,000 crore.
Chenab Bridge
The Chenab Bridge is described as a unique example of modern engineering. The bridge is located at a height of 359 metres above the river, which is designed in such a way that it can withstand an earthquake of magnitude 8 on the Richter scale and strong winds of 266 km per hour.
Higher than the Eiffel Tower, 287 metres above the Qutub Minar
This 1,315 metre long steel arch bridge is 35 metres higher than the Eiffel Tower and 287 metres higher than Delhi’s Qutub Minar. This makes it the world’s highest railway bridge.
This bridge has given India a new identity on the world engineering map.
The distance between Katra and Srinagar will be only 3 hours
With the opening of this bridge, the distance from Katra to Srinagar can be covered in just 3 hours, which earlier used to take up to 6 hours. This new route of Vande Bharat train will save a lot of time for the passengers and the journey will be more comfortable and faster.
The cost of construction of the bridge is Rs 1486 crore
The Chenab Bridge is a part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link Project (USBRL). This bridge is built at a cost of Rs 1486 crore. The length of the bridge is 2.08 km and it is considered an important part of the 272 km long railway line.
The bridge is made of advanced technology and structure
The bridge structure uses 333 piles, polysiloxane paint, anti-corrosion technology, stainless steel and fiber reinforced plastic. The aim is to make it safe, durable and low maintenance for a long time.
Features of vertical span and huge structure
The bridge has 99 spans (18.3 meters each) and a vertical lift span of 72.5 meters. It is 3 meters higher than the old bridge, which will enable uninterrupted movement of large ships and equipment.
USBRL project will provide all-weather rail connectivity to Kashmir
Prime Minister Modi will also inaugurate the USBRL project, which is 272 kilometers long and costs more than Rs 43,780 crore.
The project includes:
- 36 tunnels (total length 119 km)
- 943 bridges
All-weather connectivity between Jammu and Kashmir and India
This project will accelerate the socio-economic development of the Kashmir Valley and play an important role in the areas of employment, tourism and security.