Rlys launches arch on Chenab bridge

KAURI(REASI): The Indian Railways has launched the main arch of the world’s highest bridge on the river Chenab in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi district, which will provide direct connectivity to Kashmir.

The iconic bridge will soar 359 metres above the bed of the river and will be 30 metres higher than the iconic Eiffel Tower in Paris.

The bridge forms the crucial link in the 111km stretch between Katra and Banihal, which is a part of the Udhampur- Srinagarbaramulla section of the Kashmir Railway project.

“We have begun work on installations of the main arch between two sides of the bridge. We have launched the mainarch,” said MK Gupta, member, engineering, Railway Board, here on Sunday.

The iconic bridge is being constructed on the River Chenab on the Katra-banihal section as part of the flagship Udhampursrinagar-baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) Project, Gupta said.

The launch of the main arch is a noteworthy endeavour as it entails carrying heavy segments from two ends of the bridge — Kauri end and Bakkal end — and involves the world longest cable crane arrangement.

The 1.3-km-long bridge is being constructed at a cost of ₹1,250 crore.

“It is part of a big project. The work is being done by AFCONS through Konkan railways. We will complete it by May 2019,” Gupta said. The Udhampur-srinagar-baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) Project will be completed by March 2012, he said.

“The work has been launched simultaneously from both the sides. The design of the bridge has been made to sustain earthquake of magnitude 8 on the Richter scale,” he said.