Out of several ongoing constructions, the USBRL (Udhampur – Srinagar – Baramulla Railway Link) is the most focused one. The central government had started its construction in order to connect the mountainous areas with the mainland. And the prime element of this project is the Anji Khad Bridge — India’s first cable-stayed bridge! If the rumours are true, then this dream project will soon become a reality.
Anji Khad Bridge: Coming Soon!
The Udhampur – Srinagar – Baramulla Railway Link is India’s dream and prime project to increase commute stability in the country. But, the cable-stayed bridge is more important! Earlier, the Ministry of Railways had tweeted an update about this bridge — stating that around 83 per cent of the work is completed. Now, they have released the tentative date of the Anji Khad Bridge being operational! And it’s around May 2023. Not to forget, the bridge is exceptional for multiple reasons.
What’s So Special About It?
The bridge is India’s first cable-stayed bridge and an engineering marvel. The design of the bridge was supposed to be similar to the Chenab Rail Bridge. However, after looking at the overall condition and topography of the area, it was decided that this connecting bridge will be a cable-stayed one.
The original design would have looked like a long steel arches span bridge. But the construction standards, quality aspects and indigenous materials were the same as the Chenab Rail Bridge and that didn’t suit the geographical conditions of the area. So, the authorities decided to let go of the arch design and consider the cable design. With cable design, the bridge was built with 96 cables and stretched at a total length of 1,300 metres.
As for the Udhampur – Srinagar – Baramulla Railway Link, it connects the Kashmir valley with the rest of the country. But its construction was a challenging task for the authorities involved. The area lies in an earthquake-prone zone and has an inhospitable terrain with extreme temperatures. These conditions are not suitable for workers and thus the construction took more time than initially planned.
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This railway connection is supposed to increase stability in the transport sector of the country.
Cover Image Courtesy: Dr Jitendra Singh/ Twitter