The world’s tallest railway arch bridge is being constructed in Jammu connecting Kashmir over the river Chenab. This bridge is said to withstand the high intensity of blasts and also the worst natural disasters like earthquakes and more.
This is the first time globally that a bridge is being constructed so strongly as to withstand the high-level explosion of trinitrotoluene (TNT). The safety oof the bridge architecture is being consulted by the Defense Research and Development Organization. The bridge is constructed by Konkan Railway Corporation Limited on a budget of Rs. 1200 crores.
This Chenab bridge is 1.3 km long with a height of about 359 meters and is 35 meters taller than Eiffel tower in Paris and Five times the height of Qutab Minar in Delhi.
The bridge connects the crucial link of 111 km stretch between Katra in Jammu and Banihal in Kashmir which is a part of the Udhamour- Srinagar- Baramulla section of the railway project. This project is aiming to link Kashmir with the rest of the country. The project site is located only 60km from Pakistan border. The construction work was started back in August 2004 with a deadline of April 2007 but have missed several deadlines and is in the process of construction still then.
The engineers constructing the bridge says that even if the 17 piers of the bridge has been blown off the bridge would result in a collapse and also it can withstand up to two and a half loads of TNT blasts. The after effects would be just some minor repairs says the engineers.
The construction of railway links in Kashmir dates back to the year 1892 where the King of Kasmir, Maharaja Pratap Singh laid the foundation for a railway link between Jammu and Srinagar which was later abandoned in 1925 when the king died. Also, some railway lines were between Pakistan and Jammu for sugar trade which was also abandoned after partition in 1947.
The material used to construct this bridge is 63-millimeter thick special blast-proof steel and concrete steel which can withstand explosions. The reason for using this is because the bridge is in a zone which is prone to frequent terrorist attacks. A system of aerial security, online warnings and a continuous monitoring system on the bridge are provided for security purposes. The bridge is a massive steel arch bridge with the ability to withstand temperatures as low as -20-degree celsius and a wind speed of about 200 kmph and also it is cost economical. The company AECOM is the team behind the construction and providing technical guidance in design and construction of the bridge.
Although the construction of the bridge is delayed if it is completed it will be of national importance and serve as an important pathway for the commuters. It is good to know that none of the extremist groups have made a fuss or created any sort of trouble while the construction of the bridge as till date there is no single news of any nuisance and unwanted disturbances in the construction of the bridge. If they can maintain peace this will be a huge success for the nation and its people.
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