Professor Madhavi Latha, a key figure in the construction of the iconic Chenab Bridge, has humbly requested the public not to make her "unnecessarily famous." In a LinkedIn post, the rock engineering specialist from Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru, redirected all credit for the engineering marvel to Indian Railways and AFCONS, highlighting the collective effort of thousands involved in the project.
The Chenab Bridge, now the world's highest railway arch bridge at 359 metres above the riverbed – taller than the Eiffel Tower – was recently inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This bridge is a crucial part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project, linking the Kashmir Valley to the rest of India with an all-weather railway corridor.
Dispelling 'baseless" claims and saluting unsung heroes
"Hearty Congratulations to India on the inauguration of Chenab Railway bridge by honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji. The bridge is a Civil Engineering marvel. All glory of the planning, design and construction goes to Indian Raliways and AFCONS," Latha wrote. She emphasised that "Thousands of people have significantly contributed in different ways for the construction of this iconic bridge. There are millions of unsung heroes to whom I salute today."
Latha clarified her specific role as a "geotechnical consultant to AFCONS" was to "help in developing slope stabilization schemes and design of foundations on slope." She firmly dismissed media statements labelling her as the "woman behind the mission," or crediting her with making the "impossible possible" or "doing miracles to build the bridge" as "baseless."
Despite her efforts to downplay individual recognition, Latha, who hails from a small village in Andhra Pradesh and is the first engineer from her community, expressed joy at the impact her perceived role has had. "Many fathers have written to me saying that they want their daughters to become like me. Many young kids have written to me that they now want to take up civil engineering as their career choice. I am extremely happy about this," she noted.
Concluding her message, Latha, who is currently attending a conference in Spain, asked for privacy and reiterated, "Please remember that I am one of the thousands who deserve appreciation for Chenab Bridge. Please don't make me unnecessarily famous. All glory belongs to Indian Railways."
The Chenab Bridge: An engineering feat
Located in the Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir, the Chenab Bridge boasts an arch span of 467 metres and a total length of 1,315 metres. Constructed at a cost of Rs 1,486 crore, it was designed to withstand wind speeds of up to 260 km/h and has a projected lifespan of 120 years. The bridge presented immense engineering and geotechnical challenges due to its rugged Himalayan location, requiring innovative solutions for stability, seismic activity, and environmental durability. The completion of the USBRL project, symbolised by the new Vande Bharat Express connecting Katra to Srinagar in under three hours, significantly boosts defence logistics and provides year-round accessibility to the valley.
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