Executing complex bridge projects globally

06 May 2019 CW Staff

A recent Engineering News-Record (ENR) survey ranked Afcons the 22nd best company globally in bridge construction. “This is the rich legacy of project delivery of the Shapoorji Pallonji Group, and in the DNA of Afcons, to complete projects ahead of schedule,” says K Subramanian, Executive Vice Chairman, Afcons Infrastructure.

Over the decades, Afcons has constructed several engineering marvels in some of the most hostile geographies, including valleys, through mountains, at terrifying heights, across flooded rivers, over live railway tracks, and even over the sea. The company is executing some world-beating projects, says Subramanian with pride. “We are constructing the Rohtang Pass highway tunnel in Himachal Pradesh, which will be the world’s longest motorable tunnel at 3,000 m above sea level upon completion. Also coming up is the Chenab Rail Bridge in Jammu & Kashmir, which will be the tallest single-arch railway bridge in the world.”

Commenting on innovative solutions adopted by the company, Subramanian mentions the concrete pumping at Vallarpadam Rail Bridge for a stretch of 2.1 km, which was a national record; and the world’s tallest cable crane set up for the Chenab Railway Bridge project, which is perhaps a record.

SHRIYAL SETHUMADHAVAN

Technology

29 Jul 2026

AI-Enabled Workflows Lift Profitability and Productivity

Organisations modernising frontline workflows with artificial intelligence, automation and real-time data are reporting stronger financial performance, higher productivity and improved employee engagement, according to a global study by Zebra Technologies and Oxford Economics.The research covered 1,000 senior leaders across retail, manufacturing, transportation and logistics in the US, Mexico, the UK, Germany, India, Japan, Australia and New Zealand.In transportation and logistics, 54 per cent of companies that improved picking and packing operations reported faster operational performance, wh..

India Leads Global AI Readiness but Implementation Lags

Indian companies lead global averages across all eight artificial intelligence readiness indicators tracked by JLL, but only 19 per cent have started making changes to their workplaces, according to the JLL 2026 Future of Work Survey.The study found that 77 per cent of Indian business leaders expect AI to change their office requirements, creating a 58-percentage-point gap between awareness and implementation. The survey covered more than 2,200 CEOs, CFOs and real estate leaders across 21 countries during the first quarter of 2026.Despite concerns over automation, 58 per cent of Indian leaders..

Three WOLFF Cranes Build Riyadh Cable-Stayed Bridges

Three WOLFF 180 B luffing jib cranes are supporting the construction of two cable-stayed bridges alongside the existing Wadi Laban Bridge in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The project is being developed for the Royal Commission for Riyadh City and executed by the ICRC joint venture comprising IC Ictas and Al Rashid Trading & Contracting Company.The cranes are handling lifting operations including formwork, reinforcement, concrete placement, work platforms, surveying equipment and other construction materials. Each crane is fitted with a 40 m jib, reaches a hook height of 157 m and offers a maximum ..