Spanning a length of 473.25 m including its approaches, India’s first cable-stayed bridge is a critical component of the ambitious 345-km-long railway line planned by the government to link the Kashmir Valley with the broader Indian Railways network, bolstering connectivity and economic development in the region.

Due to the steep terrain, crews utilized prefabrication to weld stay-cable bearing plates and attach anchor boxes in the safety of a workshop before erection. Hanging platforms supported drilling rigs used for slope stabilization work to improve safety.

The bridge’s asymmetrical cable-stay design was strategically chosen to facilitate most of the construction from one end. This approach was based on the available space and slope stability on that end, while addressing constraints at the other end. For the 193-m-high main pylon, the team employed jump-form shuttering, a first in the country.

To address heavy wind flows in the valley area, aerodynamic fins were designed on both sides of the deck. These fins effectively countered wind pressures, enhancing the bridge’s stability and safety. A 25-tonne capacity tower crane with an extended height of 205 m facilitated efficient lifting operations.