New Delhi:The Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) has played a pivotal role in the construction of the world’s tallest railway bridge over the Chenab River in Jammu and Kashmir by supplying 16,000 tonnes of steel, officials confirmed on Friday.
A major contributor to this engineering marvel was SAIL’s Bhilai Steel Plant (BSP), which alone supplied 12,432 tonnes of steel, including 5,922 tonnes of TMT steel, 6,454 tonnes of steel plates, and 56 tonnes of structural steel.
The announcement comes as Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the first train service to the Kashmir Valley and inaugurated several landmark infrastructure projects, including the Chenab Bridge—the world’s highest railway bridge—and India’s first cable-stayed arch bridge.
“This achievement is a matter of immense pride for SAIL and the Bhilai Steel Plant,” said an official from BSP. “Steel from SAIL, including plates, TMT bars, and structural steel, has been used in the construction of this iconic bridge.”
Standing at 35 metres taller than the Eiffel Tower, the 1.3-kilometre-long Chenab Bridge is considered an engineering marvel. It is designed to withstand wind speeds of up to 266 kmph and is resilient against high-intensity earthquakes.
Of the total 16,000 tonnes of steel used in the bridge:
- 6,690 tonnes comprised TMT products
- 1,793 tonnes were structural steel
- 7,511 tonnes included plates, hot strip mill products, and chequered plates
Besides BSP, the remaining steel was supplied by SAIL’s IISCO Steel Plant (Burnpur), Durgapur Steel Plant, Rourkela Steel Plant, and Bokaro Steel Ltd, the official added.
The completion of the Chenab Bridge marks a significant milestone not only for Indian Railways but also for Indian steelmakers, showcasing their ability to support large-scale, technically challenging national infrastructure projects.
