Infrastructure
Jiribam-Imphal Project: World's Tallest Pier Rail Bridge In Manipur Nears Completion
Amit Mishra
Nov 16, 2023, 02:31 PM | Updated 02:43 PM IST
Save & read from anywhere!
Bookmark stories for easy access on any device or the Swarajya app.
Noney Bridge, the world’s tallest railway pier bridge in Manipur, part of the Jiribam-Imphal project, is nearing completion as 80 per cent of work is completed.
Standing at 141 metres, it will be the tallest pier bridge in the world, surpassing the record currently held by the 139-metre Mala-Rijeka viaduct in Montenegro.
The bridge, being constructed across the Ijai river near Noney, is 703 metre long, with the piers of the bridge being constructed using hydraulic augers.
The tall piers needed for the project have been specially designed with 'slip-form technique' to ensure efficient and continual construction.
The Project
The 111-km-long Jiribam-Imphal rail link starts from existing Jiribam station of North East Frontier (NEF) Railway in Manipur and will connect the state's capital Imphal with the country’s broad gauge network.
Being built by the North East Frontier Railway, the rail line will transport passengers between the two places in under two and a half hours, slashing the current 10 hour, 220 km journey by road.
The centre included Jiribam-Imphal rail project in Budget 2003-04. The railway project was finally taken up in 2008 and was declared a 'National Project' owing to its importance.
The construction work started in 2013 and has already achieved physical progress of 93.30 per cent and is set to be completed by March 2025.
According to the Indian Railways, the connectivity to Imphal is part of the government’s move to connect all the capitals of North Eastern states by rail with the rest of the country.
This rail link is crucial as nearly 70 per cent of Manipur's population lives in Imphal. The line passing through difficult terrain will also become a new lifeline for Imphal, which is now primarily dependent on the road network for getting essential supplies.
Save & read from anywhere!
Bookmark stories for easy access on any device or the Swarajya app.
Support Swarajya's 50 Ground Reports Project & Sponsor A Story
Every general election Swarajya does a 50 ground reports project.
Aimed only at serious readers and those who appreciate the nuances of political undercurrents, the project provides a sense of India's electoral landscape. As you know, these reports are produced after considerable investment of travel, time and effort on the ground.
This time too we've kicked off the project in style and have covered over 30 constituencies already. If you're someone who appreciates such work and have enjoyed our coverage please consider sponsoring a ground report for just Rs 2999 to Rs 19,999 - it goes a long way in helping us produce more quality reportage.
You can also back this project by becoming a subscriber for as little as Rs 999 - so do click on this links and choose a plan that suits you and back us.
Click below to contribute.