Chenab Rail Bridge

About Chenab Rail Bridge

• Location: It is located between Bakkal and Kauri in the Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K).
• The 1.3-km-long bridge is located 359 metres above the Chenab riverbed.
• It is the highest single-arch railway bridgein the world.
• It is part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link project.
• The construction of the Chenab bridge has been a collaborative effort, involving various international organizations and renowned Indian institutions, including the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), and the Geological Survey of India.
• Features:
  • It consists of 17 spans, with the main arch spanning an impressive 467 metres, making it the longest of its kind.
  • The arch consists of steel boxes. Concrete has been filled in the boxes to improve stability.
  • The bridge consists of 93 deck segments, each weighing approximately 85 tonnes. 
  • The bridge has been designed with a life span of 120 years. 
  • It has been designed to withstand high wind speeds of up to 266 Kmph. 
  • It is built to be ‘blast-proof’ and is capable of withstanding the nation’s maximum intensity zone-V earthquake forces.

Key Facts about Chenab River

• It is a major river of India and Pakistan.
• It is a tributary of the Indus River.
• Course:
  • Origin: It is formed by the confluence of two streams, Chandra and Bhaga, at Tandi in the upper Himalayasin the Lahaul and Spiti Districts of Himachal Pradesh.
  • In its upper reaches, it is also known as the Chandrabhaga.
  • It flows west through Jammu and Kashmir union territory, between the steep cliffs of the Siwalik Range (south) and the Lesser Himalayas (north).
  • Turning southwest, it continues into Pakistan, descending from the uplands into the broad alluvial lowlands of Punjab province. 
  • After receiving the Jhelum River near Trimmu, the Chenab empties into the Sutlej River, a tributary of the Indus River.
• Its total length is about 605 miles (974 km), and it feeds several irrigation canals.
• Tributaries: The tributaries of the Chenab River include Miyar Nalla, Sohal, Thirot, Bhut Nalla, Marusudar, and Lidrari.

Q1: What is the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link project?

The USBRL Project involves the construction of a railway line from Udhampur to Baramulla joining the Kashmir valley with the Indian Railways network. It aims to connect Kashmir to the rest of the country and give a push to development in the Valley.

Source: Times of India