Imphal, Manipur: Northeast Frontier Railway is constructing a 111km long bridge connecting Jiribam-Imphal. The pier at a height of 141 metre, equivalent to twice the Qutub Minar breaking the existing record of 139 metre Mala-Rijeka viaduct, at Montenegro in Europe.
Emerging as the world’s tallest bridge pier, the bridge is located at the hilly terrain of Marangching village in Noney district, about 65 km west of Imphal. The piers of the bridge are constructed using hydraulic augers. The tall piers needed specially designed ‘slip-form technique’ to ensure efficient and continual construction, according to Northeast Frontier Railway officials.The bridge is designed to carry almost 25 tonne axle-load freight trains.
With an outlay of Rs. 13,809 crore, this project commenced in 2008 and scheduled to complete by March 2020.The project was categorized as a National project under the government’s ‘Act East’ policy, focused on connecting all state capitals in the Northeast with broad gauge and strengthening rail networks in border areas of the region.