Katra: The construction of world’s tallest railway bridge is on in full swing over river Chenab in the hostile terrain of Jammu and Kashmir.
Since the area is in a high seismic zone and also near the border, special care is being taken by the DRDO to equip the Rs 12,000-crore bridge to withstand any major blast in the militancy-affected region.
"It is an incredible undertaking because you are building a very large steel bridge in a very remote location and getting those competent contractors to get the job done," said David Mackenzie, a UK-based quality consultant.
About his role in the project he said "My role is about quality control and advising them what is acceptable and not acceptable. This is a major work of world class standard and the international community will be fascinated to know and read about it. It is definitely an engineering marvel and India should boast about it".
"The construction of the bridge is the most challenging part of the Kashmir rail link project," said Tomar. There will also be a ropeway on the bridge for inspection and maintenance purposes.
Steel was the chosen material to construct the humongous bridge as it is more economical and able to resist temperatures of minus 20 degrees Celsius and wind speeds of above 250 kmph.
It will require a mammoth 24,000-plus tonnes of steel to construct the bridge.
In order to enhance safety and security, the bridge will be made of 63 mm-thick special blast-proof steel in the region prone to frequent terror attacks.
The concrete pillars of the bridge are designed to withstand explosions. The bridge will include a 14 metre-wide dual carriageway and a 1.2 metre-wide central verge.
The structure will be painted with a special corrosion- resistant paint which lasts for 15 years. It will also contribute to the economic development of the state and help in providing better transportation accessibility within the state and the country.
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