The world’s most elevated single-curve rail span is set to associate the valley locale in Indian-regulated Kashmir with the remainder of the nation via train interestingly.
The Indian railways took more than two decades to complete the bridge over the River Chenab in the Reasi district of Jammu.
The landmark piece of infrastructure is 35 meters taller than the Eiffel Tower, and the first train that will use the bridge will soon travel between the Bakkal and Kauri regions.
The bridge is a part of a 272 km (169 mi) all-weather railway line that will go through Jammu and eventually reach the Kashmir valley (the completion date is currently unknown). Currently, when heavy snowfall causes the highway from Jammu to become impassable, the road link to the Kashmir valley is frequently cut off during the winter months.
India will gain a strategic advantage along the troubled border region, according to experts.
India and Pakistan have been at odds for decades in Kashmir, a Himalayan region. Since their independence in 1947, the nuclear-armed neighbors have fought two wars over it. Both sides claim Kashmir in its entirety, but only in part.
Since 1989, thousands of people have been killed in the Indian-administered region as a result of an armed insurgency against Delhi’s rule. There is a significant military presence there.
Giridhar Rajagopalan, deputy managing director of Afcons Infrastructure, the contractor for the Indian railways that constructed the bridge, stated, “The rail bridge will permit the transportation of military personnel and equipment to the border areas throughout the year.” Afcons Infrastructure was the project’s owner.
This will assist India with taking advantage of a “essential objective of dealing with any adventurism by Pakistan and China [with whom it shares tense relations] on the western and northern lines”, said Shruti Pandalai, an essential issues master.
On the ground, feeling about the undertaking is more nuanced. Unnamed locals claimed that the move would unquestionably contribute to improved transportation links, which would be to their advantage. However, they are also concerned that it would be a means by which the Indian government would increase its control over the valley.
The railroad line is essential for a bigger infrastructural extension – alongside in excess of 50 other thruway, rail line and power projects – by State head Narendra Modi’s administration, which stripped Jammu and Kashmir of its unique status and separated the state into two governmentally directed domains in 2019.
The controversial move was accompanied by a security crackdown that lasted for months and sparked a lot of ire in the region. The government has since implemented a number of administrative changes that are regarded as attempts to more closely integrate Kashmir with the rest of India.
Ms. Pandalai goes on to say that even though India’s plans for the region would naturally be influenced by its “strategic aims,” the country also needs to take into account the “local needs and context.”
The development of the Chenab span was endorsed in 2003, however confronted delays and missed cutoff times in light of the district’s slippery geology, security concerns and legal disputes.
During the initial stages of construction, engineers had to walk or ride mules to reach the remote location.
The geotechnical characteristics of the Himalayas, a young mountain range, are still poorly understood. The Indian railways had to conduct extensive exploration studies and modify the bridge’s shape and arches in order to ensure that it could withstand simulated wind speeds of up to 266 kilometers per hour because it is in a highly seismic zone.
Because of the remoteness of the location and the congested roads, logistics presented yet another significant obstacle. Mr. Rajagopalan stated, “Many of the bridge’s components were built and fabricated on site.”
Other than the designing inconveniences, the railroads needed to plan an impact resistant construction. Even if there was damage or a pillar was knocked out, trains would continue to move, albeit at a slower pace, according to Afcons, who claim that the bridge can withstand a strong “explosion of up to 40 kg of TNT.”
Specialists say that empowering all-climate network to the Kashmir valley could give the district’s economy a truly necessary lift.
The valley’s businesses, which are largely dependent on farms, have experienced a significant problem with poor connectivity during the winter months.
According to the think tank Observer Research Foundation, seven out of ten Kashmiris rely on the cultivation of perishable fruits.
The impact of the rail link could be “huge,” according to Ubair Shah, who owns one of the largest cold storage facilities in Kashmir in the Pulwama district in south Kashmir.
The majority of his facility’s plums and apples are currently transported to markets in northern states like Haryana, Punjab, and Delhi. The new rail route line would give ranchers admittance to southern India which could ultimately assist with expanding their wages, he said.
However, he does not anticipate a swift shift to railway cargo in the absence of improved connectivity in the final mile.
The closest station is 50 kilometers away. We’ll need to initially send the produce to the station, then, at that point, dump it and burden it onto the train once more. It takes too much control. With perishables you need to attempt to limit that,” Mr Shah said.
Additionally, the project is anticipated to increase tourism revenue in the region.
Despite the remoteness of the region, there has been a recent uptick in visitors to Kashmir’s stunning tourist destinations. A direct train between Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir would not only be cheaper but would also cut travel time in half, which could boost tourism even further.
Additionally, there will be several obstacles.
Violence continues to be a problem in Kashmir. Particularly concerning is a recent uptick in militant activity that appears to have moved from the Kashmir valley to the more tranquil Jammu region.
In June, nine Hindu explorers were killed and handfuls harmed after aggressors started shooting at a transport in Reasi – where the extension is found – in perhaps of the deadliest assailant assault as of late. Numerous additional assaults on civilians and the army have occurred.
According to experts, such incidents serve as a reminder of the fragile peace in this area, and connectivity projects can only do so much to revive the region’s economy without stability.
