By 2019, J&K to be home to world's tallest railway bridge.

he world's tallest railway bridge being built above the Chenab river on the Udhampur Srinangar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) will be ready only by 2019.

The bridge, which will rise 359 metres over the Chenab and is being built in hostile and isolated terrain, will be 35 metres taller than the Eiffel Tower.

Currently , the tallest bridge is above the Tam River in France, with its tallest pillar rising 340m from the riverbed. The Chenab Bridge, which has an arch de sign, will connect the steep banks on the Bakkal (Katra) and Kauri (Srinagar) ends.It will have a central span of 457 metres and is designed to withstand wind speeds of 266kmph.

Construction of the Jammu to Katra section of the bridge was completed and opened in 2014 and work is in progress on the Katra-Banihal section.

The Konkan Railway has taken up the construction of part of the USBRL project from Katra to Dharam in December 2002. The bridge was expected to be ready by 2016 but the new deadline is 2019.

TOI