India completes world’s tallest railway pier bridge in Manipur

The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has reached a major engineering milestone by completing the girder launching of the world’s tallest railway pier bridge at Noney, Manipur. This 141-metre bridge is a key component of the 111-kilometre Jiribam-Imphal railway project, which aims to improve connectivity in India’s northeastern area.

The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has finished the girder launching of the tallest railway pier bridge in the world, which is situated in Noney, Manipur, in an incredible engineering achievement. This construction, known as Bridge No. 164, has piers P3 and P4 that reach 141 metres in height, breaking the previous record of 139 metres set by Montenegro’s Mala-Rijeka bridge.

The bridge is a critical component of the ambitious 111-kilometre Jiribam-Imphal railway line project, which aims to increase connectivity in India’s northeast area. Its completion is intended to considerably cut the travel time between Assam’s Jiribam and Manipur’s capital, Imphal, from 10-12 hours by road to about 2.5 hours by train.

The bridge, built over the Ijai River, has a steel span design of 1×71.5m + 5×106m + 1×71.5m + 1×30m, providing structural stability and resilience to the region’s severe topography and environmental circumstances. The piers were erected utilising hydraulic augers and the slip-form technology, allowing for efficient and continuous construction.

The Jiribam-Imphal railway project, designated a ‘National Project’ in 2008, aims to link Imphal to India’s wide-gauge network, promoting economic growth and regional development. The completion of the Noney Bridge marks a significant milestone for the project.

This technical marvel demonstrates India’s infrastructure strength and has the potential to revolutionise the northeastern region’s socioeconomic environment by increasing accessibility and fostering integration with the rest of the country.

For more details, visit: https://nfr.indianrailways.gov.in/