The tallest bridge coming in India

Konkan Railways is truly a pride of India and surely the icing on the cake of its parent, Indian Railways. Thus it comes as very good news to know that some headway is being made on the long started, tallest bridge in the world, across the Chenab River.

Started way back in 2002, during Vajpayee’s rule, the bridge is expected to be ready only by 2016 but when it does manage to get completed, it will surely be an engineering marvel, like the Konkan Railways. The bridge will link sections of the spectacular mountainous region of India's northern Jammu and Kashmir state.

In terms of dimensions, the bridge is expected to be 359 metres or 1,177 feet high when completed and this will be taller than the current tallest bridge in China, which stands at 275 metres high. The bridge is being built to withstand seismic activity and high speed winds. At an estimated cost of $92 million, the bridge will connect Baramulla to Jammu in the Himalayan state with a travel time of six-and-a-half hours, almost half the time it currently takes. The main arch is being erected using two cable cranes attached on either side of the river which are secured on enormous steel pylons.

Truly an engineering feat given the tough terrain of the region, making even transport of steel and other materials difficult. Hope it sticks to the 2016 deadline – 14 years is a long time waiting.