Chenab bridge Arch completed- April 2021
The construction of the arch of the world's highest railway bridge that soars 359 metres above the bed of the Chenab river in Jammu and Kashmir was completed in the first week of April, 2021, with the Northern Railways zone of Indian Railways terming the achievement a milestone! The 1.3-kilometer-long bridge aims to boost connectivity to the Kashmir Valley and it is being constructed at a cost of ₹1,486 crores as part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Link (USBRL), a project of National Importance.
This Bridge involves fabrication of approx 28000 MT of steel. The overall weight of the arch is 10,619 metric tonnes and "the erection of members of the arch by overhead cable cranes was done for the first time by the Indian Railways.
- Bridge designed to withstand high wind speed up to 266 Km/Hour.
- Bridge designed for blast load in consultation with DRDO for the first time in India.
- Bridge will remain operational at restricted speed of 30 Km/Hour even after removal of one pier/trestle.
- Bridge designed to bear earthquake forces of highest intensity zone-V in India.
- First time on Indian Railways, Phased Array Ultrasonic Testing machine used for testing of welds.