The Chenab Railway Bridge, now officially the world’s highest railway bridge, stands not only as a symbol of India’s engineering prowess but also as a tribute to the perseverance and intellect of Indian scientists. Among them is Professor Madhavi Latha G, a civil engineering expert from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, who dedicated 17 years of her life to this historic project.
Inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, the bridge spans 1,315 metres across the Chenab River in Jammu & Kashmir’s Reasi district and forms a key link in the Udhampur–Srinagar–Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project, connecting Kashmir to the rest of India by rail for the first time.
“Working on this project has been the experience of a lifetime,” says Latha, who visited the site with her family in 2022. “The magnitude of the bridge hits you only when you see it in person
ngineering Feat in a Seismic Zone
Set in a region prone to seismic activity (Zone IV), designing the bridge foundation was a colossal challenge. Latha, who holds a PhD from IIT Madras, was tasked with stabilising the slopes and rock formations in an area still geologically active due to the Himalayan mountain formation.
She designed protection systems using cement grouting and steel rock anchors to bind loose rock fragments and prevent landslides — all while ensuring the structure could withstand earthquakes up to magnitude 8 and wind speeds of 220 km/hr.
“Any slope is standing against gravity and vulnerable to sliding, especially in young, fractured mountains like these,” Latha explained.
Highlights of the Chenab Bridge:
- World’s highest railway bridge, taller than the Eiffel Tower (359m above the riverbed)
- Built to endure -20°C temperatures and super-cyclone-level winds
- Steel-arch deck spans 785 metres, approach bridge is 530 metres
- Connects Kashmir to Jammu by rail for the first time
- A key component of the USBRL mega project
A Role Model in STEM
Madhavi Latha’s journey from JNTU Kakinada to NIT Warangal, then IIT Madras, and finally to IISc Bengaluru showcases the brilliance and dedication of Indian women in science. Her hands-on involvement — often working sleepless nights at the site — reflects the grit required behind India’s most ambitious infrastructure projects.
Tags: Chenab Bridge, Madhavi Latha, Indian Railways, Engineering Marvel, Jammu Kashmir Connectivity, USBRL Project, Women in STEM, PM Modi Inauguration