Chenab bridge arch to be completed today

05 Apr 2021 Editorial Team

The nearly 0.5 km long arch of the world's tallest railway bridge—the Chenab bridge in the Kauri area of Jammu and Kashmir━is all set to be completed today.

The 5.3 m last piece of metal will be fitted at the highest point today and join the two arms of the arch that currently stretch towards each other from both the river banks. This will complete the arch's shape that will then loom 359 m above the Chenab river.

The arch is the most difficult part of the Rs 1,400 crore Chenab bridge that will complete the 111 km long stretch connecting Katra with Banihal. It will symbolise the Kashmir rail link to be ready for at least a century.

Currently, the Kashmir link means a 25 km stretch from Udhampur to Katra, an 18 km stretch from Banihal to Qazigund in the Valley and thereafter the 118 km Qazigund to Baramulla line. All these lines have been operational for years. The only missing piece in the link is the Katra-Banihal stretch, and the bridge over Chenab was the main engineering hurdle holding up the progress all these years.

The cable crane that will complete the arch measures around 900 m and is said to be the longest in the world, made especially for this project. Over the last 2.5 years, engineers have been building the arch with the help of two mammoth cable cranes installed on both banks of the Chenab—the Kauri end and the Bakkal end.

A major challenge was that the 550 m arch, weighing 10,000 metric tonne, had to stand only with the support from the two embankments and without any intermediate pier since the river is 359 meters below and no pier could possibly come at a height like that.

From "support to support", the distance is 467 m. The whole bridge is going to weigh around 29,000 metric tonne. Engineers started work from both embankments simultaneously, starting with the installation of the cranes that would launch the arch.

Each specially designed cable crane, installed at the two banks by Afcons, are around a kilometre long. The two cranes have been working independently and also in synchrony, from each bank and joining pieces of the arch bit by bit.

For the wielding of the pieces, a national accredited welding lab cum workshop was erected on the construction site to speed up work—a first for a project in India. Steel pieces are cut with computerised machines and are then tested as per the standard before being approved for deployment.

Image Source

Also read: World’s tallest railway bridge by Indian Railways

Also read: Railways completes arch bottom of tallest rail bridge

The nearly 0.5 km long arch of the world's tallest railway bridge—the Chenab bridge in the Kauri area of Jammu and Kashmir━is all set to be completed today. The 5.3 m last piece of metal will be fitted at the highest point today and join the two arms of the arch that currently stretch towards each other from both the river banks. This will complete the arch's shape that will then loom 359 m above the Chenab river. The arch is the most difficult part of the Rs 1,400 crore Chenab bridge that will complete the 111 km long stretch connecting Katra with Banihal. It will symbolise the Kashmir rail link to be ready for at least a century. Currently, the Kashmir link means a 25 km stretch from Udhampur to Katra, an 18 km stretch from Banihal to Qazigund in the Valley and thereafter the 118 km Qazigund to Baramulla line. All these lines have been operational for years. The only missing piece in the link is the Katra-Banihal stretch, and the bridge over Chenab was the main engineering hurdle holding up the progress all these years. The cable crane that will complete the arch measures around 900 m and is said to be the longest in the world, made especially for this project. Over the last 2.5 years, engineers have been building the arch with the help of two mammoth cable cranes installed on both banks of the Chenab—the Kauri end and the Bakkal end. A major challenge was that the 550 m arch, weighing 10,000 metric tonne, had to stand only with the support from the two embankments and without any intermediate pier since the river is 359 meters below and no pier could possibly come at a height like that. From support to support, the distance is 467 m. The whole bridge is going to weigh around 29,000 metric tonne. Engineers started work from both embankments simultaneously, starting with the installation of the cranes that would launch the arch. Each specially designed cable crane, installed at the two banks by Afcons, are around a kilometre long. The two cranes have been working independently and also in synchrony, from each bank and joining pieces of the arch bit by bit. For the wielding of the pieces, a national accredited welding lab cum workshop was erected on the construction site to speed up work—a first for a project in India. Steel pieces are cut with computerised machines and are then tested as per the standard before being approved for deployment. Image Source Also read: World’s tallest railway bridge by Indian Railways Also read: Railways completes arch bottom of tallest rail bridge

Resources

03 Jun 2026

Jyoti Structures Launches Heat Safety Drive Across Sites

Jyoti Structures (JSL) has strengthened heat safety measures across its project sites and manufacturing facilities as temperatures rise across India. The company has implemented a Summer Safety Plan covering all transmission line projects to address risks related to heat stress, dehydration and worker fatigue.The initiative includes rescheduling work away from peak afternoon temperatures, provision of drinking water, ORS and lemon-salt solutions, and installation of rest shelters near work areas. Daily toolbox talks, worker health monitoring, first-aid preparedness, emergency transport arrange..

Real Estate

03 Jun 2026

MHADA Declares 82 Buildings Most Dangerous in Central and South Mumbai

The Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) has declared 82 buildings as most dangerous across Central and South Mumbai and has appealed to residents to vacate immediately. The list, prepared after structural assessments by the authority, identifies buildings judged to pose imminent risk to occupants and to passersby. Local civic bodies have been asked to coordinate evacuations and to make arrangements for temporary shelter and rehabilitation for displaced households. Officials said the authority prioritised buildings with visible structural distress, severe cracking, tiltin..

Infrastructure Transport

03 Jun 2026

Damage Reported At Halwara Airport Terminal After First Rains

Severe damage was reported at the terminal of Halwara Airport during the first major rain spell of the season, prompting immediate concern among aviation and local authorities. Images from the site showed water ingress and visible deterioration of the terminal interior, affecting passenger areas and ancillary services. The airport authority suspended certain operations temporarily to assess structural safety and ensure passenger wellbeing. Preliminary inspections have prioritised electrical systems and roof seals to prevent further water ingress. State aviation officials ordered a formal inqui..