CONCEPTUAL DESIGN OF CHENAB BRIDGE

Girinath TV , Roshni Vijay

Conceptual Design Approach, Geotechnical Considerations, Structural Design Aspects

The Chenab Bridge, an engineering marvel spanning the Chenab River in the Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir, India, stands as the world's highest railway bridge and a symbol of infrastructural innovation. Designed as a steel arch bridge, it rises approximately 359 meters above the riverbed, surpassing even the height of the Eiffel Tower. Engineered to withstand extreme wind speeds, seismic activity, and challenging Himalayan topography, the bridge incorporates state-of-the-art materials and construction techniques, including weathering steel for longevity and a blast-resistant design for enhanced security. The structure exemplifies a harmonious integration of aesthetic form and structural function, with its arch geometry ensuring optimal load distribution across deep gorges. Beyond its technical brilliance, the Chenab Bridge plays a critical strategic role, connecting remote regions and enhancing socio-economic integration in one of India's most geopolitically sensitive zones. Its completion represents a landmark achievement in high-altitude bridge engineering and resilient infrastructure development. The Chenab Bridge's conceptual design and structural design principles are described in this study. The major goal is to describe the unique bridge concept in difficult terrain and to provide an overview of the design solutions employed in one of the world's tallest steel arch railway bridges. The construction of a new railway line in India has been taken on by Indian Railways as a mega-project in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. The project includes a large number of tunnels and bridges which are to be implemented in highly rugged and mountainous terrain. The alignment crosses a deep gorge of the Chenab River which necessitates construction of a long span railway bridge. The deck height is 359m and bridge length is 1315m. Indian railways constructing the iconic arch bridge on river Chenab as a part of the USBRL project to connect Kashmir valley to the rest of nation. Arch bridge completely made of steel. Foundations and the approach viaduct piers are made of concrete. This report describes the design and engineering of the bridge. The bridge has numerous design challenges such as erection of the steel arch by cable crane, the bridge's huge dimensions, and the special design requirements- redundancy of the arch, the earthquake load and blast load effect. The challenges in the design and erection of the bridge is described in this paper.

Volume 13 Issue 12, December-2025

Pages : j217-j227