news details |
|
|
| Reasi earns distinction of having world’s tallest bridge | | | Early Times Reporter
Reasi | Nov 4
Few would have even heard of Kauri, a small and virtually inaccessible hamlet in newly created district of Reasi that is now gearing up for being enlisted and hogging all the limelight as the place where world’s tallest bridge is being constructed by the Konkan Railways.
A joint venture of Indian-European partnership and the flagship project of the Konkan Railways, the Chenab Bridge, as would be designated on its completion would be located at the height of 359 metres above the bed of the mighty and tumultuous Chenab, with Kauri emerging as the country’s attraction centre.
Surpassing the record of the Mailo Road Bridge in France, the Chenab Bridge in linking Kauri and Bakkal hamlets is yet another engineering marvel of the Konkan railways that has been adding to the list of it’s accomplishments after constructing the Anji Bridge over the Anji rivulet situated only 25 kms away from the famous pilgrimage centre of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine.
An engineering wonder, the Chenab River situated in the highly sensitive seismic zone with a total length of 1315 metres is being constructed at an estimated cost of over Rs 600 crore and would be completed by December 2009. What is more remarkable about the project is that an estimated 25,000 MTS of steel, most of which of Grade C that can withstand the freezing temperatures of -20 degree Celsius to avoid any cracks by way of contraction.
The project though may not commercially viable to some experts at the initial stage, yet for the Indian railways it is matter of pride and prestige as Train to Kashmir would link Jammu and Kashmir to the already laid 68000 kms of rail network of the country.
Detailing about other major parameters of the construction to a team of media persons, Deputy Chief Engineer Konkan Railways Ishwar Chand said that the construction is indeed not a difficult task but a challenging one, especially when one has to think of laying it at a place which is totally inaccessible and is situated in topographically very difficult zone. The main hazard that has delayed the construction of the project, which is going to take five years for its construction is that in executing the project the Konkan railways has to construct a total of 118.87 kms of road network to reach the designated and beneficial Kauri.
Located at the height of 859 metres above the sea level, Kauri inhabited with just about 25 families, is scenically also a place worth watching. Surrounded on all the three sides by the middle Shivaliks and Trikuta hills, Kauri, figures as a plateau zone in which Chenab is running agog all along its surroundings thereby adding to its charm and bestowing the place the serene and soothing environs.
The Konkan Railways has been meticulous monitoring each and every aspect of the project as this would place the agency as a pioneer in undertaking such challenging ventures, said Chand, adding that in the Chenab Bridge joint venture the Konkan is not relying on any one agency but is seeking consultancy expertise and opinion of renowned players like Scott Wilson Kirk Patrick and Co and Flint and Neil, both of London as their Proof Consultants for the project. Similarly, KORTES of Finland, yet another pioneer in designing of such projects are acting as Design Consultants to the organization in collaboration with LAP of Germany. While, the Geotechnical Consultancy has been sought from the scientists of Indian Institute of Science Banglore and NIRM of Kolar. Even the climatic feasibility are being taken into account and consultancy on this aspect is being sought from the FORCE Technology of Denmark for particularistic Wind testing of Tunnels to be constructed at both ends of the bridge.
As if all this was not enough, the Konkan Railways is also promoting all transparency in quality controls and for prolonging the health of such projects by enlisting and ascertaining every detail of the project to an independent Third Party Inspection team of IRS and TUV, both of whom are known for their credentials and ingenuity.
Being constructed on the most difficult track of 71 kms of Katra-Dharam section, the estimated cost of whole section by the Konkan has been worked out at over Rs. 8000 crore. What is significant about this topographically intricate terrain is that unlike other sections like Jammu-Udhampur or Udhampur-Katra where only 1/3rd of the area is under tunnels, the Katra-Dharam section would provide 80 percent of the linkages through long tunnels and as such would have only seven stations with nearly 50 bridges and 32 tunnels on it, which are being constructed through the most sophisticated implants like Road headers for tunnel excavations and have been imported from Europe.
In constructing the project, for the first time in the engineering history, the help of Cable Crane is also being sought which till now was only used in hydro-electric projects. Two Cable Cranes for the purpose of placing the Decks measuring 17 metres wide to enable two simultaneous tracks and trains to chug on it has been procured from SEIK, an Italian Construction Implant manufacturer.
The project like every other development unit would be generating the spin-over benefits to the hitherto neglected areas of the region, where already as per the details forwarded nearly 50 percent of the workforce employed is local. The construction of approach roads, causeways, minor bridges too have brought hope and percolation of development benefits to those who would not have ever thought of these even in remotest of their dreams. The area is just indebted and is booming with chants of two, one- Jai Mata Di and remarkable Konkan!.
Among others, Joint Director of Information, Jammu, S.K.Sharma, District Information Officer, Udhampur, Dr. Jagdish Mehra, Senior Vice President, Project B.K.Kunar, Manager Planning, Mahesh Pai, Manager Quality Control, S. Choudhary, AEE, Konkon, S.T.Killedar, Public Awareness Consultant, Yashwant Yogdev, Engineer, Ankush Gandotra and other officers of Konkan Railway were present on the occasion. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
