Lok Sabha Question No. 2834 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-15
Subject: Tallest Railway Bridge
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Suresh Kumar Kashyap

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2834 TO BE ANSWERED ON 15.12.2021

## TALLEST RAILWAY BRIDGE

## †2834. SHRI SURESH KUMAR KASHYAP:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Indian Railways is constructing the world's highest railway bridge; (b) if so, the details thereof; (c) the  time  by  when  the  construction  work  of  the  said  bridge  is likely to be completed; (d) the type of new technology used for the construction of the said bridge and the cost involved; (e) whether  such  bridges  can  also  be  constructed  in  Himachal Pradesh and if so, the facts thereof; (f) whether the Government proposes to extend the railway lines in Himachal Pradesh which have been constructed earlier; and (g) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

- (a) to (g):  A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

*****

STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (g)  OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2834 BY SHRI SURESH KUMAR KASHYAP TO  BE  ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  15.12.2021  REGARDING TALLEST RAILWAY BRIDGE

(a) and (b):  Yes,  Sir.    Railway  has  taken  up  construction  of  Bridge  at Chenab river in Reasi District of Jammu & Kashmir. This is the highest Railway Bridge in the world.  The main arch span of this bridge is 359 meter high from Chenab river bed level.  The total length of this bridge is 1315 meter and span of main arch is 467 meter. The construction of Chenab  bridge  has  been  taken  up  as  part  of  Udhampur  Srinagar Baramula Rail Line (262 Km.).  The sanctioned cost of the project is ` 27949  crore.    Out  of  which  161  Km  length  of  the  project  has  been commissioned and an expenditure of ` 26238 crore has been incurred on the project so far.  Work in Katra-Banihal section has been taken up.

(c): The  completion  of  any  Railway  project  depends  on  various factors like quick land acquisition by State Government,  forest clearance by officials of forest department, priority of project, shifting of  infringing  utilities,  statutory  clearances  from  various  authorities, geological and topographical conditions of area, law and order situation  in  the  area  of  project  site,  number  of  working  months  in  a year for particular project site due to climatic considerations etc.  All these  factors  affect  the  completion  time  of  the  project.    As  such, confirmed completion time of project cannot be ascertained. Nevertheless,  every  effort  is  being  made  to  execute  the  project expeditiously.

(d): The  arch  of  Chenab  Railway  bridge  is  being  constructed  by erection  of  arch  segments  using  overhead  cable  cranes  and  deck  is constructed  by  incremental  launching.    The  anticipated  cost  of  this bridge is ` 1486 crore

(e) Design of bridges depends upon various factors including water ways, topographical and geological conditions  of  area etc. Presently there is no such requirement in Himachal Pradesh.

(f) & (g):  The Railway projects are sanctioned Zonal Railway-wise and not  State-wise  as  the  Railway  projects  may  span  across  State boundaries. However, as on 01.04.2021, 04 New line Projects costing ` 16,133crore for 258 Km length falling fully/partly in Himachal Pradesh are under different stage of planning/approval/execution, out of which 61 Km length has been commissioned and an expenditure of ` 1,712 Cr. has been incurred upto March 21.

*****