Anji Khad Bridge
Jammu and Kashmir, India
Merit Award
Sent by: Italferr SpA
Owners: Konkan Railway Corp. Ltd.; Northern Railway
Leading design company | Structural Engineer: Mario Petrangeli & Associates
General contractor: Hindustan Construction Co.
Civil Engineer | Construction Supervisor: Italferr SpA
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 India’s widest network of railways, strengthening connectivity and the economy. development in the region.
Because of the steep terrain, crews used prefabrication to weld pull cable support plates and attach anchor boxes with the safety of a workshop prior to construction. The suspended rigs supported the drilling rigs used for slope stabilization work to improve safety.
The bridge’s asymmetrical brace design was strategically chosen to facilitate most of the construction from one end. This approach was based on available space and slope stability at one end, while addressing constraints at the other end. For the 193 m high main pylon, the team used jump-shaped formwork, a first in the country.
To address the strong wind flows in the valley area, aerodynamic fins were designed on both sides of the deck. These fins effectively countered wind pressures, improving the stability and safety of the bridge. A tower crane with a capacity of 25 tons and an extended height of 205 m facilitated efficient lifting operations.