Chenab Bridge: Taller than Eiffel Tower and 9 other facts about the engineering marvel

At a length of 1,315, the Chenab Railway Bridge is 35 m higher than the Eiffel Tower in Paris. It took over 1,300 workers and 300 engineers to complete it.

The Chenab Rail Bridge in Jammu and Kashmir is a railway bridge which is 35 metres higher than the Eiffel Tower. It is the world’s highest railway bridge. The arch-shaped steel structure built over the Chenab River links sections of the mountainous region of Jammu and Kashmir. The bridge will connect the Kashmir Valley with the rest of the country.

Here are 9 things to know about Chenab Bridge:

1. Height: The Chenab Bridge is the world's tallest railway bridge. It stands at a staggering height of around 359 meters (1,178 feet) above the Chenab River.
2. Length: The bridge is 1.3-km long. It forms a crucial link in the 111-km stretch from Katra to Banihal, which is part of the Rs 21,653-crore Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Link project.
3. Location: It is situated in the Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir.
4. Cost: Northern Railway officials said the arch bridge was constructed at a cost of Rs 1,486 crore.
5. Construction: The construction of the Chenab Bridge began in 2002 as a part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Line (USBRL) project. While the arch was completed in 2021, the overall construction of the bridge was completed in August 2022.
6. Engineering marvel: The bridge is a testament to modern engineering prowess. It is designed to withstand high wind speeds of 266 km per hour, earthquakes and extreme weather conditions prevalent in the region.
7. Arch design: The bridge features an arch-shaped design, making it an architectural marvel. The arch is made of steel and is one of the key structural elements of the bridge.
8. Other features: The arch bridge has 17 spans and the linear length of the main arch span is 460 metres and it is curvilinear. The codal life of the bridge is 120 years and the bridge can withstand the wind speed of 266 kmph, but the train can cross the bridge at the speed of 100 kmph.
9. Vande Bharat Express: A high-speed Vande Bharat Metro train between Jammu and Srinagar will run on Chenab Bridge once it is becomes functional.