The Indian Railways is constructing the world's highest bridge on the river Chenab in Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi district. The iconic arch bridge on river Chenab is 1.3 km long and the construction is nearing completion. The Rs 1,250 crore bridge, which is 359 meters above the Chenab river bed, will be 35 meters taller than the iconic Eiffel Tower in Paris, officials said. The bridge will be able to withstand up to 8 magnitude earthquake and is a part of the Udhampur-Reasi-AnantnagSrinagar-Baramulla railway project. The main steel arch portion across the Chenab river is 476 meters in length and its height is 359 meters above the river bed.
Standing at 359 meters above the Chenab river bed, the iconic bridge, at its highest point, will be 35 meters taller than the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
Built on the Chenab river in Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi district, the bridge is part of the Udhampur-Reasi-Anantnag-Srinagar-Baramulla railway project.
It is being constructed by AFCONS Construction Company, having 17 spans, of which the main steel arch portion across the Chenab river is 476 meters in length and its height is 359 meters above the river bed.
More than 1,300 workers and 300 engineers have been working round-the-clock to complete the bridge in time. The construction work started in 2004, but the work was briefly stopped in 2008-09 because of the safety of rail passengers due to frequent high-velocity winds in the area.
The bridge is designed for blast load in consultation with DRDO for the first time in India. The iconic arch bridge will be able to withstand up to 8 magnitude earthquakes and can withstand a blast of 30 kg of explosives.
Once constructed, the bridge will put India on the world-map of engineering wonders across the world including Eiffel Tower and Burj Khalifa.