Srinagar: The country is inching towards a
world record with the construction of highest rail bridge over
Chenab river in Jammu and Kashmir going on in full swing.
To be built at a height of 359 metre over river Chenab,
the rail bridge will be 35 metre taller than the Eiffel Tower
in Paris. Currently, the world's tallest bridge is on France's
Torn river. Its tallest pillar has height of 340 m while the
actual height at which the trains run on the bridge is 300 m.
"Once the construction is completed, the bridge will
qualify for world record," Northern Railway Chief
Administrative Officer Chahatey Ram said.
Coming up at a distance of 65 km away from Katra, the
bridge is a crucial link in the Kashmir rail project
connecting Katra with Qazigund.
Constructed by Konkan Railway, the 1,315-metre-long
Chenab bridge is estimated to consume about 25,000 million
tonnes of structural steel.
As a precaution measure, the Railways have decided not to
allow trains cross the Chenab bridge if the wind velocity is
more than 90 km per hour.
If the wind velocity is more than 90 km then it might
cause tilting of the train at this height. So the signalling
system is designed in such a way that it would not give green
signal when the wind speed is not favourable, Ram said.
PTI
First Published: Friday, May 27, 2011, 20:43