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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
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