Rail Analysis India Dec Edition 2017 Digital Magazine | Page 38

Article | 19
Launch Of The Main Arch
• The launch of the main arch is a noteworthy endeavour as it entails carrying heavy segments from 2 ends of the bridge – Kauri end & Bakkal end – and involves the world longest cable crane arrangement .
• The 1.3km-long bridge is being constructed at a cost of Rs 1,250 crore ( approx US $ 193 Million ).
• The work is being done by AFCONS through Konkan Railways & will be completes by May 2019 .
• he work has been launched simultaneously from both the sides . The design of the bridge has been made to sustain earthquake of magnitude 8 on the Richter scale .
• To achieve these pylons were erected on either side of the river , and two auxiliary selfpropelled cable cranes were used to tow temporary auxiliary ropes across these pylons .
Image Credit : Northern Railway
• A top engineer said ,” The ropes were used to support the partly finished arch parts . Both the embankments of Chenab facing downstream have hard cherty dolomite and quartzite forming steep cliff .”
• He said , the launch is typically performed in a series of increments so that additional sections can be added to the rear of the superstructure unit prior to subsequent launches
Massive Workshops For Undertaking Fabrication Of Steel Structure
• Three massive workshops for undertaking fabrication of steel structure has been commissioned at Srinagar end of bridge and one at Katra end of the bridge , Mr Gupta said .
Image Credit : Northern Railway
• He said , ” For launching purpose , arrangements in the form of pylons with cable cranes spanning the entire gorge have been completed successfully . The cable crane assembly including pylons at span of 915 meters is the longest in the world . For the first time on Indian Railways viaduct was launched on curve of 2.74 degree .”
Bridge To Be Complete By May 2019
• More than 1,300 workers & 300 engineers have been working round-the-clock to complete the bridge by May 2019 , the officials said .
• The bridge under construction can withstand winds upto 260 kmh and its lifespan will be 120 years , he said .
• On the other side of Chenab river , the Railways is constructing three big tunnels of various lengths ? T 2 ( 5.9 KM ), T 3 ( 9.369 km ) & T 14 ( 13 km ).