Indian Railways today completed the Arch closure of the iconic Chenab Bridge.
Chenab Bridge, the world's highest railway bridge, part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla rail link project (USBRL), set an important construction milestone today with completion of the steel arch of the iconic Chenab Bridge. This was one of the most difficult part of the bridge over Chenab. This achievement is a major leap towards the completion of the 111 k.m. long winding stretch from Katra to Banihal. It is arguably the biggest civil-engineering challenge faced by any railway project in India in recent history. The 5.6-metre last piece of metal was fitted at the highest point today and joined the two arms of the arch that currently stretch towards each other from both the banks of the river. This completed the shape of the arch that will then loom over the treacherous Chenab, flowing some 359 metres below. After completion of the arch work, removal of the stay cables, filling of the concrete in the arch rib, erection of the steel trestle, launching of the viaduct and track laying work will be taken up.
The completion of the historic Arch work was also seen by Mr. Piyush Goyal Minister for Railways, Commerce & Industry and Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Mr. Suneet Sharma, Chairman & CEO, Railway Board, Mr. Ashutosh Gangal, General Manager Northern Railway through video conferencing.
Salient Features of the Arch of the iconic Chenab Bridge:
Certain features are tabulated below:
1. Client: Northern Railway
2. Executing Agency: M/s Konkan Railway Corporation Ltd.
3. Cost of Bridge: 1486 Cr.
4. Contractor: M/s Chenab Bridge Project Undertaking [Ultra-AFCONS-VSL(JV)]
5. Total length of bridge: 1.315km
6. Number of spans: 17 nos.
7. Length of Main arch span: 467m (linear); 550m (curvilinear)
8. Design life of the bridge: 120 years
9. Design speed: 100 kmph
10. Total Steel Fabrication: 28660 MT (approx.)
11. Design wind speed: 266 kmph
12. Designers:
A. Viaduct & Foundations: M/s WSP (Finland)
B. Arch: M/s Leonhart, Andra and Partners (Germany)
C. Foundation Protection: Indian Institute of Science Bangalore
13. Proof Consultant:
A. Foundation & Foundation Protection: M/s URS, UK
B. Superstructure of Viaduct & Arch: M/s COWI, UK
14. Slope Stability Analysis: (Independent Consultant) M/s ITASCA, USA
15. Slope Stability Analysis: Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi
16. Seismic Analysis: Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi & Roorkee
Unique Features of This Bridge:
Details about ceremony of Arch Closure:
After the closure of the Arch, the other activities such as removal of stay cables, filling of concrete arch with self-compacting concrete, erection of trestles, launching of deck over main arch by incremental launching will be undertaken.
Progress of Important activities:
S.No. |
Activities |
Scope |
Completed |
1. |
Fabrication |
28,660 MT |
28,595 MT |
2. |
Overall Erection |
28,660 MT |
16,902 MT |
3. |
Erection of Arch |
10,619 MT |
10,236 MT |
4. |
Rock Bolts |
69,343 Rmt |
66,683 Rmt |
5. |
Shotcrete |
75,061 Sqm |
73,761 sqm |
Disclaimer: This information has been collected through secondary research and IBEF is not responsible for any errors in the same.