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P. 22
INFRASTRUCTURE
Safety was non-negotiable
throughout the project. The
For the first time in Indian Railways, project team maintained an
incremental launching was done on unwavering focus on safety and
transition curve and a longitudinal an uncompromising commitment
gradient, both occurring at same to quality. State-of-the-art
location, for the deck launching of technologies were harnessed and
meticulous inspection and testing
the viaduct portion of the Chenab procedures were executed.
Bridge. Typically, bridges have The project team adhered to
been constructed incrementally the highest international safety
on a straight or a curved platform standards.
with a uniform radius. Executing The Bridge is located in a region
launching activities in inclement prone to high seismic activity,
weather & stormy wind extreme temperature fluctuations,
conditions was extremely and high wind velocities. To
challenging. ensure structural integrity, the
bridge is designed to withstand
– GIRIDHAR RAJAGOPALAN, high wind speed up to 266 Km/
Deputy Managing Director, Afcons
Hour and to bear earthquake
forces of highest intensity zone-V
in India. “Moreover, we carefully
Some highlights include The bridge was designed
establishing a state-of-the-art for blast load in consultation considered security challenges,
fabrication facility on both with the Defence Research including potential threats. Its
sides of the gorge for enabling and Development Organisation design thoughtfully incorporates
on-site fabrication of arch and (DRDO), marking a first in India. contingency measures, ensuring
deck components, employing Even if one critical member of minimal impact and continued
plasma cutting precision the arch is removed, the bridge operation, even in rare instances
machines taking CNC inputs will still be able to carry traffic at of adversity”.
directly from the design files restricted speed and even after The Chenab Railway Bridge is
and employing phased array the removal of one pier, the not just an infrastructure project
ultrasonic testing (PAUT) for bridge will not collapse under but also a transformational one. It
the first time for ensuring strict self-weight. is intricately woven into the lives
quality control on site. of local communities. The project
The first major milestone
“In addition, for the first time, came with the arch closure ignited economic growth and
we provided double corrosion on April 5, 2021. It marked a created job opportunities. Locals
protection (DCP) DYWIDAG historic milestone, when the final were inspired and eagerly joined
anchor cables capacity of up segment was clinically placed the construction, aided by training
to 120 tonnes for ensuring to complete the enormous steel programmes offered by the
stable slopes under the arch. The second landmark was project. It uplifted the quality of
massive arch foundations. We realised with the completion life, fuelled businesses and in the
used innovating incremental of the Golden Joint on August future is expected to spur tourism.
launching techniques on the 13, 2022. This marked a This project showcases the
transition curve of the deck on historic milestone in completing strength of collaboration,
the completed arch and for the the world’s highest single- innovation, and determination.
very first time for the Indian arch railway bridge. Through The Indian Railways and Afcons
Railways, a lab accredited by the incremental launching from are proud of this remarkable
National Accreditation Board for both the Kauri and Bakkal engineering masterpiece that has
Testing and Calibration (NABL) sides, a remarkable feat was firmly established India on the
was established at the project accomplished — the connection world stage. The design life of the
site”, said Rajagopalan. of the deck. bridge is 120 years. TT
22 TRAFFICINFRATECH / June 2025 / www.trafficinfratech.com