Chenab Bridge

By : Neha Dhyani

Updated : Apr 22, 2022, 6:28

The Chenab Bridge is a rail bridge that is currently being built in the Bakkal and Kauri areas of Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi district. Northern Railways is sponsoring the project. The lower ends of the arch were linked on March 17, 2021, and the bridge is slated to open in December 2022.

Chenab Bridge - Overview

The Chenab Bridge was declared a national project in 2002. The Northern Railways embarked on the project of constructing a new railway line connecting Udhampur in Jammu and Baramulla in Jammu and Kashmir's Kashmir Valley's northwestern outskirts.

A problematic aspect of the Chenab River Bridge project is the construction of a substantial volume of tracks – a total of 63 kilometres – in the harsh and steep Himalayan terrain. When finished, it will be the world's highest rail bridge, spanning the whole Chenab River at an altitude of 359 m (1,178 ft) above river level.

Design of the Chenab Bridge

The Chenab Railway Bridge will be built as a single steel arch band having access viaducts on both sides with a large span. The truss cords are welded steel boxes that are inwardly strengthened and filled with concrete to help alleviate wind-induced strains on the bridge. Cement filling has another advantage: it eliminates the requirement for interior painting.

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Modifications in the Design of the Chenab Bridge

The amount of bearings has been reduced thanks to the use of continuous construction, particularly on the approaching viaduct. This is advantageous since it reduces inspection and maintenance costs while enhancing ride quality.

The viaduct is supported by concrete piers, while the arch is supported by steel piers. When designing a large arch, fatigue, global stability, 2nd order effects, composites activity, and other aspects must all be considered.

For the enormous spans of the Chenab Railway Bridge, Indian building norms such as the Indian Railway Standards (IRS), the Indian Road Congress (IRC), and the Indian Standards (IS) were deemed to be insufficient.

Specific Architectural Design of the Chenab Bridge

Some of the architectural concerns that were taken into account were as follows:

  1. The design philosophy has been selected to be followed in accordance with BS regulations.
  2. Wind load effects computation based on wind tunnel tests
  3. Use of a blast-resistant design
  4. Checking for tiredness in accordance with BS codes
  5. Redundancy is built into the structures to allow for a reduced level of operation in the event of a disaster and to protect against collapse in the event of a single pier failure.

The Chenab River Bridge is the world's tallest railway bridge and is a component of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla rail link project (USBRL). The project was classified as a Project of National Significance in March 2002. It is the world's highest railway bridge, with a length of 1,315 meters and a height of 359 meters above the riverbed level.

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FAQs on Chenab Bridge

Q.1. Who is building the Chenab Bridge?

The famous Chenab Bridge is being built by Indian Railways.

Q.2. Is the Chenab Bridge finished?

The arch of the Chenab Bridge was finished in April 2021, and it is scheduled to open to rail traffic in December 2022.

Q.3. What is the significance of Chenab Bridge?

The Chenab Bridge between Bakkal with Kauri in the Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir, built at a cost of Rs 1,486 crore, is being hailed as a key step toward smooth railway access to the Kashmir valley. It will represent the Kashmir train link, which is expected to stay operational for at least 100 years.

Q.4. Which government initiated the construction of the Chenab Bridge?

The project is being carried out by the Konkan Railway Corporation. In 2004, a partnership of Afcons Infrastructure, Ultra Construction & Engineering Company of South Korea, and VSL India was awarded the design and construction of the Chenab Bridge.

Q.5. Where is the Chenab Bridge located in India?

The Chenab Bridge on the Chenab River, which is 1.3 kilometres long, is located in the district of Reasi, Jammu and Kashmir.