Kashmir has often been referred to as “Heaven on Earth.” The heart of the area is the fertile “Vale of Kashmir” (The Valley), which lies between the Himalayas and the Pir Panjal mountain range.
The world’s highest railway bridge in India over river Chenab in Jammu and Kashmir will be completed by December 2021, and will connect the Valley with the rest of India by rail for the first time.
The construction work of the bridge was accelerated in the last one year under the direct supervision of the top echelons of the central government. It is most challenging task in the 150-year-long history of the railways.
As seen above the massive arch-shaped structure, being constructed in hostile terrain. Had been in use over 5,462 (18,379 ft) tonnes of steel above sea level on the India side of Kashmir and will be 359 metres above the river’s bed level. The bridge has a central span of 467 metres. The height of Qutab Minar – Delhi 72 metres and that of the Eiffel Tower – Paris 324 metres. The maximum designed wind speed for the bridge is 266km/h.
Designed to withstand wind speeds of up to 266 km/h, 1.315-km-long, by withstand Blast, Earthquake of Intensity 8. An incredible “Engineering Marvel”!
The Srinagar Leh power transmission line 220 KV Srinagar-Alusteng-Drass-Kargil–Leh power transmission system have also been completed. Ladakh now stands connected to the national grid. This has ensured grid connectivity and reliable quality power supply to the Ladakh region in winter and surplus power can be evacuated from there in summer, reducing reliance on diesel, boosting economy and protecting environment. The semi ring road in Jammu will be completed also by next year and all land acquisition and related hurdles have been removed. In this project, 30% of the work has already been completed. Major roads like Jammu–Akhnoor Road, Chenani-Sudhmahadev Road works has been accelerated and also has been earmarked for rebuilding of health institutions.
The Udhmapur-Katra (25 Km) section, Banihal-Quazigund (18 Km) section and Quazigund-Baramulla (118Km) section have already been commissioned. The last remaining section, the 111 km Katra-Banihal section is currently under execution. The 126 km out of 174 km of tunnels on this section has already been completed.
There has been a greater push in the last one year for implementation of various projects, practically every sector and provides for massive investments in basic infrastructure also meant for strengthening socio-economic infrastructure and balanced regional development of Jammu and Kashmir.
The Chenani-Nashri Tunnel is the India’s longest road tunnel under construction in Udhampur district of Jammu and Kashmir. The 9.2 km long road tunnel is a major road tunnel project in Northern India and biggest of the country. Chenani-Nashri road tunnel is also known as Patnitop Tunnel also one of the longest tunnel in Asia. The Shivalik mountain range of the great Himalayas will host the India’s longest 2 way traffic road tunnel
Jammu and Kashmir, particularly the Kashmir witnessed the worst-ever floods in 2014 therefore a number of projects have been taken up to prevent floods. The Jhelum recovery project was a key one aimed at increasing the carrying capacity of the river Jhelum and the flood spill channel.
Further might be of interest:
Tallest … Fastest … Longest Railway Tunnel … Under Sea Level … High Speed Rail in India.
Tallest: Since 2019, the tallest building in India has been Lodha The Park 1 in Mumbai at 268 metres (879 feet). Multiple taller buildings are under construction as well as multiple taller buildings are on-hold. Mumbai has the highest concentration of high-rise buildings in India.
Fastest: The ambitious “bullet train” project between Ahmedabad and Mumbai is set to be a test of the credentials of the country’s infrastructure prowess. India’s first bullet train between Ahmedabad and Mumbai is likely to be completed by 2022, the year marking 75 years of India’s Independence. Also incated that the project would be completed by 2022, much before the earlier deadline of December 2023. The foundation stone of the project, which will get a soft loan of Rs 88,000 crore from Japan, will be laid on September 14 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe.
Longest: India is the fastest growing industry of mega structure of Civil work,whether its bridges, amazing cloverleaf or elevated freeway in Indian cities. Indian road and rail network are one of the largest transport network in the world and bridges,Tunnels play a major role to complete the connectivity across the country. There are many longer tunnels under construction in the Himalayas ranges as part of Indian railway. Most of the tunnel in India are located in Western Ghat and Himalayas ranges. Maliguda Tunnel is the highest broad-gauge railway tunnel in India and the second highest in the world.
Under Sea Tunnel for India’s bullet train project to be conclude by August, 2022.
Presently both Japanese and Indian professionals are working diligently on ensuring to build a tunnel inside
the creek near Thane/Mumbai.
The dfference between tall and high bridges can be explained in part because some of the highest bridges are built across deep valleys or gorges. For example, (as of 8 February 2020) the Duge Bridge is the highest bridge in the world, but only the tenth tallest. This bridge spans a deep river gorge. The bridge’s two towers, built on either rim of the gorge, are 269 m (883 ft) tall, but due to the depth of the river gorge,
the deck height of the Duge Bridge is 565 m (1,854 ft).
Longest Railway Tunnels of India: The 11.2 km long Banihal railway tunnel is India’s longest railway tunnel and and Asia’s 2nd longest railway tunnel. The great tunnel is located on the highest mountain pass on the eastern Pir Panjal range in middle of Himalayas. Indian Railways is closer to finish the work on India’s longest transportation railway tunnel. The longest tunnel of India is successfully pass its train trial run through Pir Panjal tunnel being the longest rail tunnel in India. The Karbude tunnel is 6.5 km long and one of the India’s biggest engineering marvels is located on the Konkan Railway route near Ratnagiri in Maharashtra. Karbude tunnel is known to be the longest rail tunnel on Konkan railway line situated between Ukshi and Bhoke station.
Last but not least … For many, when they hear the word KASHMIR, Kashmir shawls, women’s top garments and shoulder bags would slip through their mind. Many may know they are ancient Indian industry products in the Himalayan mountains, lower Kashmir province. Even today, many people know and are looking for these special products … and now @ Kashmir also to be known about the World’s Highest Railway Bridge.
© Aggie Reiter
Rolling in Budapest 