Trains to ply on ‘world’s highest rail bridge’ in 2024: Railway Minister

Source: The post is based on the article “Trains to ply on ‘world’s highest rail bridge’ in 2024: Railway Minister” published in The Hindu on 27th March 2023.

What is the News?

Chenab bridge is expected to have trains plying on it by January-February 2024.

What is Chenab Bridge?

Chenab Bridge is the world’s highest railway bridge and is part of the Udhampur -Srinagar- Baramulla rail link project(USBRL).

The bridge is being constructed over the Chenab River. It is 1315 m long and at a height of 359 m over the river bed level.

What are the unique features of Chenab Bridge?

– Bridge designed to withstand high wind speed up to 266 Km/Hour.

– Bridge designed for blast load in consultation with DRDO for the first time in India.

– Bridge designed to bear earthquake forces of highest intensity zone-V in India.

– For the first time on Indian Railways, Phased Array Ultrasonic Testing machine was used for testing of welds.

– First time on Indian Railways, National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) accredited lab established at site for weld testing.

Concerns: The construction of Chenab bridge raised several questions on the environmental impact of the project along the course of Chenab river. 

What is Chenab River?

Chenab River is a major river that flows in India and Pakistan.

It is formed by the union of two headwaters, Chandra and Bhaga, which rise in the upper Himalayas in the Lahaul region of Himachal Pradesh, India. 

The Chenab flows through the Jammu region of Jammu and Kashmir into the plains of Punjab, Pakistan, before ultimately flowing into the Indus River.

The waters of the Chenab were allocated to Pakistan under the terms of the Indus Waters Treaty. India is allowed non-consumptive uses such as power generation.