Cable-Stayed Rail Bridge in India [UPSC Current Affairs]

India’s first Cable-Stayed Rail bridge nears completion. The Northern Railways commissioned a ₹400 crore project to construct a single broad gauge track for trains, connecting Jammu to Baramulla via Srinagar through a 326 km railway line. Despite being executed by Konkan Railway Corporation Limited (KRCL) and Hindustan Construction Company, the project has faced several challenges such as treacherous terrain, dangerous winds, and political and environmental issues.

In this article, you can learn all about India’s first cable-stayed rail bridge, its location and significance, and the challenges facing this project, for the IAS exam GS-3 infrastructure segment.

Location of India’s Cable-Stayed Railway Bridge

Image source: www.hindustantimes.com

India’s first cable-stayed railway bridge, Anji Khad, is located in Jammu and Kashmir and spans across the Chenab River. 

• The bridge is part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project, which is crucial for the region’s connectivity and development.

India’s First Rail Bridge Significance

The bridge is significant for several reasons. 

• First, it is one of the highest railway bridges in the world, standing at 359 meters above the riverbed, and is designed to withstand seismic activity and high-velocity winds. 
• Second, the cable-stayed design is a first for Indian Railways and represents a significant engineering feat. 
• Finally, the bridge is expected to reduce travel time between Jammu and Srinagar, two important cities in the region, by several hours. 
• The completion of the USBRL project, which includes several tunnels and bridges, is expected to improve connectivity, boost tourism, and stimulate economic growth in the region.

Challenges:

• Dangerous Winds
  • The bridge site is subject to gusty winds due to the surrounding mountain peaks, making construction work dangerous when winds exceed 45 kmph. 
  • The bridge itself can sustain winds blowing up to 216 kmph, but workers must halt work when winds exceed 45 kmph to avoid the risk of machinery, such as tower cranes, swaying. A running train can sustain a wind speed of up to 90 kmph.
    
• Treacherous Terrain
  • The execution of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla rail link project is more challenging than other railway projects due to persistent climatic issues and the treacherous nature of the difficult Himalayan terrain. 
  • Construction workers face multiple dangers, including natural methane gas leaks, and a worker died two months ago after sustaining multiple injuries while conducting a slope stability survey on site.
    
• “No Approach Roads”
  • When the project was first conceptualized in 2002, it was discovered during the stretch survey that no approach roads existed for starting the railway tunnel construction. 
  • While about 205 km of approach roads were constructed between 2008 and 2016, the proposed bridge’s construction was stalled by legal disputes over its alignment.
    
• Political and Environmental Challenges
  • The construction site of the railway bridge is situated 92 km away from the border area of Suchetgarh, making it a politically sensitive project. 
  • The project’s progress was hampered by various factors, including the Pulwama attack and the outbreak of COVID-19. 
  • During the construction, the crew also encountered natural methane gas leaks, resulting in temporary work cessation to evaluate health risks to neighbouring villages. 
  • In addition, a sand mining ban in the region for two years made it difficult to source raw materials, and weather challenges made it impossible to work on-site for up to three months during winters.

Conclusion:

• Despite the challenges, the cable-stayed rail bridge is finally nearing completion, which will be a significant development in India’s railway infrastructure. 
• The project’s completion will significantly reduce travel time between Jammu and Baramulla via Srinagar, opening up new opportunities for the region’s economic development. 
• The project’s success also underscores the need for continued investment in India’s railway infrastructure to enhance connectivity and spur economic growth.

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