Indian Railways completes arch closure of Chenab Bridge.

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  has  been  completed.   Constructed   as part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Link (USBRL) project,  the  1.3-kilometre-long bridge  would  improve  connectivity to the Kashmir Valley. The 5.6-metre last piece of metal (closure segment) was fitted at the highest point of the arch. It joined the two arms of the arch that currently stretch towards each other from both banks of the Chenab.

 Construction of Bridge involved fabrication of 28,660 MT steel, 10 Lakh Cum Earthwork, 66,000 Cum Concrete and 26 Km motorable roads.

Arch  weighing 10,619 MT, consists of steel boxes. Concrete will be filled in boxes of the Arch to improve stability.  The most sophisticated ‘Tekla’ software used for structural detailing.

The bridge designed to withstand high wind speed up to 266 Km/Hour and to  bear earthquake forces of highest intensity zone-V in India. Some other unique features include approx. 584Km welding done to join the different parts of  the structure, which is to the tune of distance between Jammu Tawi to New Delhi.