Exclusive: Chenab bridge will be ready by Dec 2019: Railway ministry

New Delhi: After drawing flak over the halted construction work of Jammu and Kashmir's iconic Chenab bridge since October last year, the Ministry of Railway on Tuesday assured that the world's highest bridge would be ready on its designated time.

While addressing the media in the national capital, Indian Railway Station Development Construction's (IRSDC) chairperson Vishweesh Chaube said, "We are confident that teh Chenab bridge will meet its December 2019 target."

Delays

Since its inception, the project has been missing its deadlines. It's initial deadline was February 2007. Since then, four extensions have been granted to the project.

The Chenab bridge project has also faced several oppositions. The most vocal of all came from India's Metroman E Sreedharan. He was a part of the expert committee that was looking into the bridge's safety.

He opposed the construction of the bridge so close to the line of control with Pakistan as it is prone to terror strikes and earthquakes.

Engineering Marvel

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Indian Railway are working together on this iconic project. The 1,315 metres long arch-bridge will be one its kind. It is being built 359 metres above the Chenab riverbed which makes it 35 metres higher than the Eiffel Tower and five times the size of Qutub Minar.

It's height is not the only special feature. The bridge can withstand a high magnitude earthquake and also explosions. The estimated cost of the project is ₹1,200 crore.