Chenab Bridge | 07 Apr 2021
Why in News
Recently, Indian Railways completed the arch closure of the iconic Chenab Bridge in Jammu & Kashmir.
Key Points
- About Chenab Bridge:
- It is the world's highest railway bridge and is part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla rail link project (USBRL).
- The Project was declared as a Project of National Importance in March 2002.
- This bridge is 1,315-metre long and is the highest railway bridge in the world being 359 metres above the river bed level.
- The completion of the steel arch is a major leap towards the completion of the 111 km 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.
- It is the world's highest railway bridge and is part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla rail link project (USBRL).
- Unique Features of this 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.
- First time on Indian Railways, Phased Array Ultrasonic Testing machine 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.
- Extensive health monitoring and warning systems planned through state of art instrumentation.
Chenab River
- Source: It rises in the upper Himalayas in the Lahaul and Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh state.
- The river is formed by the confluence of two rivers, Chandra and Bhaga, at Tandi, 8 km southwest of Keylong, in the Lahaul and Spiti district.
- The Bhaga river originates from Surya taal lake, which is situated a few kilometers west of the Bara-lacha la pass in Himachal Pradesh.
- The Chandra river originates from glaciers east of the same pass (near Chandra Taal).
- The river is formed by the confluence of two rivers, Chandra and Bhaga, at Tandi, 8 km southwest of Keylong, in the Lahaul and Spiti district.
- Flows Through: It flows through the Jammu region of Jammu and Kashmir into the plains of Punjab, Pakistan, before flowing into the Indus River.
- Some of the important projects/dams on Chenab:
- Ratle Hydro Electric Project
- Salal Dam- hydroelectric power project near Reasi
- Dul Hasti Hydroelectric Plant- power project in Kishtwar District
- Pakal Dul Dam (under construction)- on a tributary Marusadar River in Kishtwar District.
