news details |
|
|
| Reasi district poised for major economic boon | | | Early Times Special Correspondent
Jammu | Mar 15
News Analysis
The under construction highest railway
bridge over Chenab among world's wonders
The newly created Reasi district in Jammu is poised for assuming the distinction of being highly prosperous, attracting a large number of tourists as well as pilgrims to various worth seeing resorts coming up here. Already Katra town in the district and villages in its vicinity have witnessed economic boon with 75 lakh pilgrims visiting the cave shrine annually. The economic benefit from such a large number of pilgrims accrues mostly to Katra town and around about villages, with land prices having sky rocketed, with more and more posh hotels, lodges as well as other infrastructure coming up fast here.
With the train reaching Katra in the near future, the annual pilgrimage to the shrine is expected to get a big fillip, leading to further economic boon. Besides railways will provide employment to many new hands. With the constitution of Shiv Khori Shrine Board, through a bill passed in the state legislature in the budget session this year, which has since been given assent by the state Governor, the pilgrim rush to the mystique cave of lord Shiva, situated about 20 kms from Reasi town, is going to rise considerably, since the infrastructure particularly the road upto the foot of the hill having the cave is going to be developed.
The district, rather its headquarter Reasi town has already earned the distinction to locate first major hydro electric project at Salal, only about 8 kms from Reasi town. This too has provided employment to a very large number of locals as well as the contractors belonging to Reasi area have enjoyed economic boon. Adding to the distinction of Reasi is the fast coming up of a highest bridge over river Chenab at Kauri near Reasi town. The bridge which is scheduled to be completed by December 2010 is engaging about 3000 labourers, working in three shifts to get completed by the targeted time. The construction of this bridge, it is claimed, will break the record of Millau bridge in France in terms of its height. The highest bridge and the third longest railway bridge of the world is being constructed over Salal dam in Reasi by Konkon Railway Corporation. It would be 383 metres in height and 1315 metres in length. Designed by Kortes of Finland and Leonhard Andhra and Parinar of Germany it would be constructed at a cost of Rs 512 crore.
The construction work of the bridge is a challenging task as 118.87 kms long road had to be constructed to reach Kauri which was inaccessible and situated at hostile topographic zone. The Chenab Bridge connecting two villages of Reasi namely Kauri and Bakkal is 5 times the height of Qutub Minar and 35 metres higher then the Eiffel Tower. On the 71 km stretch between Katra and Daram there will be 32 tunnels, for carrying the rail line from Katra to Kashmir valley. This wonder bridge is being constructed in a most hostile terrain, having inhospitable geological conditions like loose stones and lime stones. Wind speed here can blow at the speed of over 100 kms per hour, which can prove dangerous at times.
In view of this the bridge would be fitted with special equipment to measure wind speed, seismic vibration and temperature to prevent any dangerous situation during travel by train over the bridge. Obviously the residents in the area are existed and happy about the tallest bridge coming up in their area. This will be another major attraction for the tourists after Mata Vaishno Devi temple, in the Reasi district. Reasi will soon be on the world map. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
