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World's highest railway bridge: The Prime Minister on Tuesday inaugurated the world's highest railway bridge built over the Chenab River in Jammu and Kashmir. Which has been built on the Katra-Banihal railway section at a cost of about Rs 28 thousand. The construction of this bridge started in 2004 and the target was set to be completed in the year 2009 itself. However, work at its project site had to be stopped several times due to security reasons. The bridge is being constructed under the Konkan Railway Corporation Limited Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Link Project, which will connect the valley with other parts of the country. This has made the work easier for the Indian Army also. Let us know its features and why this bridge has become a cause of concern for Pakistan and China.
Designed to last 120 years
The height of this railway bridge from the river bank is 359 meters and length is 1315 meters. This bridge is 35 meters higher than the Eiffel Tower of Paris. However, the bridge over the Shupai River in China is 275 meters high. This bridge is designed to last for 120 years. This will make it easier for Indian Railways to reach Kashmir Valley from Jammu.
This bridge is blast proof
This bridge is made of structural steel, which can withstand temperatures ranging from minus 10 degrees Celsius to 40 degrees Celsius. Therefore, it can be said that this bridge will not be affected by any weather in Jammu and Kashmir and will also maintain connectivity with the rest of the region. The bridge has been constructed with the help of two huge cable cranes – Kauri Chor and Bakkal Chor – installed on both banks of river Chenab. With the help of Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO), the bridge has also been prepared for blast load, that is, the bridge will not be affected by blasts.
Safe even against earthquakes of magnitude 8
Trains will be able to run at a speed of 100 to 120 kilometers per hour on this bridge. The area of the bridge falls in earthquake zone four, but it has been designed for earthquake zone five, that is, it is quite safe from earthquakes and can easily withstand an earthquake of eight magnitude on the Richter scale. Also, Kashmir valley experiences strong winds, so the bridge is designed in such a way that even if the wind blows at a speed of 266 km per hour, the bridge will remain safe.
This bridge is an example of excellent engineering
Paving the way for high-speed trains in the valley, two tracks have been laid on the Chenab Railway Bridge, so that the trains do not have to stop anywhere for the crossing. It is designed with incremental launching or push-pull technology. Which is an example of excellent engineering. A total of 18 pillars have been built in the construction of this bridge, built using more than 27 thousand tons of steel.
Why has this bridge become a cause of concern for China and Pakistan?
Kashmir valley is directly connected to other parts of India due to Chenab Rail Bridge. So now it will become easier for the Indian Army to reach remote borders. Army and logistics will also be able to face the enemy.
What changes will the new bridge bring?
Apart from this, after the ease of connectivity of Kashmir Valley with the world, the valley will also get global business. Apart from this, tourists can easily visit this paradise. Also, this rail bridge will connect Kashmir Valley to Katra of Jammu, due to which the journey from Katra to Srinagar will take five to six hours less. Moreover, the Srinagar-Jammu highway often gets closed in winter due to heavy snowfall, landslides and avalanches. Therefore connectivity is affected. But because of this bridge, people's dependence on roads will also reduce.