Following the inauguration of the world’s highest railway arch bridge—Chenab Bridge—on May 6 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Professor G Madhavi Latha, a key contributor to the project, has humbly downplayed the attention she’s received, calling herself “one of thousands” involved.
Dr. Latha, who served as a geotechnical consultant for Afcons, the engineering firm behind the iconic project, reacted to media headlines portraying her as the “woman behind the mission” and a miracle worker. In a heartfelt message on LinkedIn, she wrote, “Please don’t make me unnecessarily famous. I am one of the thousands who deserve appreciation for the Chenab Bridge.”
“I salute the millions of unsung heroes,” she said, emphasizing the collective effort that went into constructing the 1,315-metre-long steel arch bridge, which towers 359 metres above the Chenab River. Her role primarily involved slope stabilization and designing foundations on the challenging mountainous terrain.
Associated with the project for over 17 years, Dr. Latha expressed gratitude for the congratulatory messages she has received. “Many fathers wrote to me saying they want their daughters to be like me. Many young students have told me they now want to pursue Civil Engineering,” she shared.
Presently attending a conference in Spain, Dr. Latha extended her appreciation to the Indian Railways and Afcons, saying all credit for this engineering marvel goes to them. She called the successful completion of the bridge, part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Link (USBRL), “an impossible task made possible.”
A renowned geotechnical engineer and a Higher Administrative Grade (HAG) professor at IISc Bengaluru, Dr. Latha’s humility stands in contrast to the accolades she’s receiving, reflecting the spirit of countless engineers who work behind the scenes on nation-building infrastructure.