A team of world class railway engineers on Sunday scripted yet another golden chapter on the banks of serpentine mighty Chenab river by successfully launching the construction work of the main arch of the world's highest 359 metre railway bridge in Kauri area of Reasi district in Jammu region.
Towering pylons painted in colors of Indian tricolor stood stall on both sides of the river Chenab as cable crane assembly was readied for lowering steel segments to complete the arch connecting both sides of the 1.3-kilometre-long bridge.
Touted as an engineering marvel the 'Sky bridge',at 359 metre above Chenab river bed and having 467 m of single arch span, is going to be 35 metres taller than the iconic Eiffel Tower in Paris.
It is for the first time in India that concrete filled steel arch is being used in the main arch bridge spanning at height of 359 metre above the river bed.
The bridge forms a crucial link in the 111-km stretch between Katra and Banihal, which is part of the Udhampur — Srinagar-Baramulla rail link project.
This is the most crucial phase of the National project as its timely completion is expected to boost the strategic importance of the railway link owing to faster movement of troops in the region.
Tourism sector is also set to get a major boost with the completion of this bridge.
The project engineers have set for themselves a modest deadline of June 2019 to complete the construction of this bridge. At present 72 per cent of the bridge construction work has been completed. The railways is aiming to run the train services between Udhampur-Srinagar latest by 2020.
To mark the historic occasion senior officers of the Indian railways led by MK Gupta, Member Engineering, Railway Board, AK Sachan Chief Administrative officer, USBRl along with large army of site engineers and construction workers participated in the special pooja ceremony at the project site on sunday.
Chants of lord Vishwanatha echoed in the Chenab valley with the launch of the maiden segment on the pylon. More than 1,500 construction workers including over 200 site engineers are working round the clock to meet the fresh deadline.
For fabrication and launching of main arch span, Railways had constructed three workshops at Srinagar end of bridge and one at Katra end of the bridge.
For launching purpose, arrangements in the form of pylons with cable cranes spanning the entire gorge have been completed successfully.
According to Neeraj Sharma, Chief Public relations officer of Indian railways, "fabrication of piers is underway at warfooting".
According to him height of the steel pier of main arch to be provided on foundation at Katra end is of the tune of 133 m which is much taller than 72 m high Qutab Minar. CPRO Neeraj Sharma said the work on the viaduct portion of the bridge at Srinagar end is nearing completion.
He said the bridge has been designed to cater for anti-terror features in consultation with Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).