New Delhi : Arguably one of the toughest engineering challenges in hand, the Indian Railways plans to complete the Chenab bridge in Jammu and Kashmir by 2016, making it the world’s highest rail bridge.

The arch-shaped bridge across Chenab river-bed in Reasi district, which will be five times the height of Qutub Minar at 359 metres above river bed, will connect Baramulla and Srinagar to Jammu via Udhampur-Katra-Qazigund. The train will cover the route in about seven hours.

The ambitious project, which fell victim to various issues such as its alignment, feasibility and security concerns, is beginning to take shape with the construction of pillars on either side.

“We plan to complete it by December 2016, a year before the Udhampur-Baramulla stretch is commissioned,” said B.D. Garg, CAO of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link Project.

The 1,315-metre bridge would boast of several unique features. The design would ensure that it withstands blast and seismic activities, while the signalling arrangements would ensure the train does not encounter high wind velocity at that height.

“An anemometer has been provided at the bridge site which will measure wind speed at the bridge site, and will interlock train movement over the bridge automatically if there is any wind above the prescribed speed,” he said.

Trains can travel at 100 kmph on the bridge, which would have a life of 120 years.

Asked why the arch-shaped design was chosen, he said the structure can best absorb seismic forces unlike concrete structures. Further, it is easier to construct and maintain and rehabilitate steel structure as compared to other structures, he said.

Even if an element is removed, trains could still run at a restricted speed of 30 kmph on the bridge“If one of the columns gives way, the deck would not collapse. It would be possible to restore the bridge for normal operation,” Mr Garg said.

The executing agency is the Konkan Railway Corporation Ltd which has an experience of handling tough projects.