Monitor News Desk
More than 29,000 MT of steel is being used to construct the world’s highest railway bridge in the Reasi district.
Principal Secretary, Industries and Commerce Ranjan Prakash Thakur inspected Railway’s Chenab Bridge on Thursday. He also reviewed the progress of the Katra-Banihal section of the Jammu-Baramulla railway line.
A.K. Khandelwal, Chief Administrative Officer/USBRL, and other senior officers also participated in the deliberations. Thakur carried out an intensive inspection of the Chenab Bridge site and appreciated the progress of the Katra-Banihal section as well as Chenab Bridge.
“Chenab Bridge is the highest railway bridge in the world. It is 1.315 km long and has a maximum arch span of 480m. More than 29,000 MT of steel is being used in the construction of this bridge. Two cable cranes of 20 MT capacity each have been used for structural components in the valley,” said an official
USBRL is a national project that will connect Kashmir valley with the rest of the country through an all-weather railway network. The total length of the USBRL is 272 km, out of which 161 km has already been commissioned, while work is in progress on the 111-km-long Katra-Banihal stretch.
The Katra-Banihal section comprises 27 main tunnels and 8 escape tunnels and 87% out of 111Km of the section is covered in tunnels. It was informed during the inspection that more than 200 km of approach roads, including a tunnel and320 bridges, have been constructed to reach the working sites, the official said. The 161 km long railway line from Banihal to Baramulla has already been commissioned, and its electrification work is in progress. He said it is expected to be completed by March 2022
“After completion of Katra-Banihal section, Kashmir valley will be connected through the railway network, which will improve economic opportunities for entire Kashmir valley population,” the official said.
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