India building world’s highest railway bridge in jihadist-infested Kashmir

[mota bhai 2,675]

Kauri: Indian engineers are toiling in the Himalayas to build the world’s highest railway bridge.

...
The arch-shaped steel structure is being constructed over the Chenab River to link sections of the spectacular mountainous region of India’s northern Jammu and Kashmir state.

The bridge is expected to be 359 metres high when completed — surpassing the world’s current tallest railway bridge over the Beipanjiang River in China’s Guizhou province, which stands at 275 metres high.

...

“The design would ensure that it withstands seismic activities and high wind speeds,” [a senior Indian Railways official] said on Wednesday.

...

The estimated cost of the project ... is $92 million.

The bridge will connect Baramulla to Jammu in the Himalayan state with a travel time of six-and-a-half hours, almost half the time it currently takes.

...

The 1,315-metre long bridge will use up to 25,000 tonnes of steel with some material being transported by helicopters due to the tough terrain, they said.

“One of the biggest challenges involved was constructing the bridge without obstructing the flow of the river,” the railways official said.

http://gulfnews.com/news/world/india/india-building-world-s-highest-railway-bridge-in-jammu-and-kashmir-1.1358511

[Operator 1,927]

Sounds like money well spent. Saving that 6 hours of travel time into the boonies will surely improve the quality of life there. (insert sarcasm smiley)

[Jacque67 7,328]

Doubt it will ever be completed

[mota bhai 2,675]

Sounds like money well spent. Saving that 6 hours of travel time into the boonies will surely improve the quality of life there. (insert sarcasm smiley)

There's no reason it has to be the boonies forever. The new government in India is trying to do what China does. Create infrastructure, settle outsiders into disputed territory and change the demographic balance. I suppose that's kind of what Israel does too.

There is already talk of the Indian government taking enough land to build 4 new cities in Kashmir, to be populated by Hindus. Except they can't say it's only for Hindus (that would be unconstitutional) so they're saying for "displaced" Kashmiri refugees who currently live in India and the descendants of refugees from Pakistan. That both groups happen to be 100% Hindu/Sikh is just a happy coincidence.

Edited July 11, 2014 by mota bhai

[Operator 1,927]

There's no reason it has to be the boonies forever. The new government in India is trying to do what China does. Create infrastructure, settle outsiders into disputed territory and change the demographic balance. I suppose that's kind of what Israel does too.

There is already talk of the Indian government taking enough land to build 4 new cities in Kashmir, to be populated by Hindus. Except they can't say it's only for Hindus (that would be unconstitutional) so they're saying for "displaced" Kashmiri refugees who currently live in India and the descendants of refugees from Pakistan. That both groups happen to be 100% Hindu/Sikh is just a happy coincidence.

It just seems to me that those rupees might be better spent building infrastructure in the already populated areas. I've only been to India a couple of times and my travels haven't include Kashmir and I don't claim to know the first thing about Indian politics but I saw a lot of folks in need of basic services.

But if the Chinese can do it....

Edited July 11, 2014 by Operator

[mota bhai 2,675]

It just seems to me that those rupees might be better spent building infrastructure in the already populated areas. I've only been to India a couple of times and my travels haven't include Kashmir and I don't claim to know the first thing about Indian politics but I saw a lot of folks in need of basic services.

I don't disagree with you but that's not how the politicians in new delhi see it. They see national security as a higher priority and this rail bridge is really one component of an overall plan for improving India's security posture vis a vis Pakistan.

Of course, the Pakistanis may decide to not let them build it.

[JohnR! 5,495]

Doubt it will ever be completed

Are they using the plans of the Ketchikan bridge? :rofl: