• Source:JND
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Professor G Madhavi Latha, a distinguished academic from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bengaluru, played a key role in the construction of the world’s highest railway bridge - the Chenab Bridge in Jammu and Kashmir. For 17 years, she served as a geotechnical consultant on the project, working closely with engineers to overcome one of India’s toughest infrastructure challenges. Her expertise helped steer the project through complex geological and terrain-related challenges involved in building the world’s highest railway bridge.

The Chenab Bridge, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Line (USBRL), a 272-km-long rail link that aims to improve connectivity in Jammu and Kashmir. Approved in 2003 and built at a cost of Rs 1,486 crore, the bridge stands 359 metres above the Chenab River—35 metres taller than the Eiffel Tower. The government has hailed it as the most difficult civil engineering feat undertaken by Indian Railways in recent times.

Who Is G Madhavi Latha?

Dr G Madhavi Latha is currently a HAG (Higher Administrative Grade) professor at IISc. Her academic journey began with a B.Tech in Civil Engineering from Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University in 1992, where she graduated with distinction. She then earned an M.Tech from the National Institute of Technology (NIT), Warangal, specialising in Geotechnical Engineering, where she was awarded a gold medal.

She went on to complete her PhD in Geotechnical Engineering from IIT Madras in 2000. Over the years, her work has earned her several honours, including the Best Woman Geotechnical Researcher Award in 2021 from the Indian Geotechnical Society, and she was listed among India’s Top 75 Women in STEAM in 2022.

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Spent '17 Years' On Chenab Bridge Project

Dr Latha joined the project as a consultant to Afcons, the main contractor for the bridge. Her responsibilities spanned the planning, design, and construction phases, with a focus on the region’s difficult terrain and unpredictable geological conditions.

The mountainous landscape presented frequent surprises fractured rock masses, concealed cavities, and inconsistent geological features. To handle this, Dr Latha’s team adopted a “design-as-you-go” strategy, modifying engineering plans in real time to suit ground realities. Her recommendations, particularly around rock anchoring and slope stabilisation, were instrumental in ensuring the structure’s integrity.

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She documented her experiences and insights in a paper titled “Design as You Go: The Case Study of Chenab Railway Bridge”, published in a special issue of the Indian Geotechnical Journal celebrating women in engineering. The paper highlights how flexibility and real-time problem-solving were key to the bridge’s construction, as per a NDTV report.

The Chenab Bridge is not just an engineering marvel due to its height, it also represents a turning point for rail connectivity in Jammu and Kashmir. Stretching 1.3 km in length and built to withstand earthquakes and high wind speeds, the bridge is a critical part of bringing all-weather rail access to the Kashmir valley.