Coming Soon: World's Tallest Rail Bridge in Jammu and Kashmir
Updated: May 7, 2017, 10:40 AM IST
An online monitoring and warning system will be installed on the bridge to protect passengers and trains in critical conditions. (Representative image/ Getty Image)
Katra: The construction of world’s tallest railway bridge is on in full swing over river Chenab in the hostile terrain of Jammu and Kashmir.
Designed by consultants from Finland and Germany, the 1.315 km-long bridge will soar to a height of 359 metres over the Chenab, which is 35 metres taller than the Eiffel Tower.
Once completed, it will be an iconic bridge and an engineering marvel of the world, said Railway Chief Engineer B B S Tomar who is involved in the project.
The bridge forms the crucial link in the 111-km stretch between Katra and Banihal which is part of the Udhampur- Srinagar-Baramulla section of the Kashmir Railway project, PTI reported.
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Since the area is in a high seismic zone and also near the border, special care is being taken by the DRDO to equip the Rs 12,000-crore bridge to withstand any major blast in the militancy-affected region.
Currently, 1,400 men are working through the day to complete the behemoth structure by March, 2019.
About his role in the project he said "My role is about quality control and advising them what is acceptable and not acceptable. This is a major work of world class standard and the international community will be fascinated to know and read about it. It is definitely an engineering marvel and India should boast about it".
The area was inaccessible earlier and the railways have to make 22 km of roads as access path for the construction of the bridge.
ALSO READ | Chenani-Nashri Tunnel: 10 Things to Know About New Lifeline of J&K
According to the plan, a ring of aerial security will be provided to safeguard the bridge. An online monitoring and warning system will be installed on the bridge to protect passengers and trains in critical conditions. Footpaths and cycle trails will be provided adjacent to it.
Railways will install sensors on the bridge to check the wind velocity and as soon as the wind speed exceeds 90 kmph, the signal on the track will turn red, preventing train movement.
"The construction of the bridge is the most challenging part of the Kashmir rail link project," said Tomar. There will also be a ropeway on the bridge for inspection and maintenance purposes.
Steel was the chosen material to construct the humongous bridge as it is more economical and able to resist temperatures of minus 20 degrees Celsius and wind speeds of above 250 kmph.
It will require a mammoth 24,000-plus tonnes of steel to construct the bridge.
In order to enhance safety and security, the bridge will be made of 63 mm-thick special blast-proof steel in the region prone to frequent terror attacks.
The concrete pillars of the bridge are designed to withstand explosions. The bridge will include a 14 metre-wide dual carriageway and a 1.2 metre-wide central verge.
The structure will be painted with a special corrosion- resistant paint which lasts for 15 years. It will also contribute to the economic development of the state and help in providing better transportation accessibility within the state and the country.
With PTI Inputs
eiffel towerjammu and kashmirKashmir rail link projectriver ChenabFirst Published: May 7, 2017, 10:35 AM IST
SC Judge Bats for Gender Equality to be Part of School Curriculum
Updated: May 7, 2017, 8:32 PM IST
File photo of the Supreme Court's lone woman judge R Banumathi. (Image courtesy: jharkhandhighcourt.nic.in)
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(Photo courtesy: jharkhandhighcourt.nic.in)
New Delhi: Children should be taught to respect women the same way they respect men, the Supreme Court's lone woman judge R Banumathi has said while stressing that gender equality should be made a part of school curriculum.
Justice Banumathi, in her separate but concurring verdict running into 114 pages, upheld the death penalty of the four convicts in the brutal December 16, 2012 gangrape case and suggested several measures to curb violence against women.
She also said that a change in the mindset of the society at large is needed.
"Stringent legislation and punishment alone may not be sufficient for fighting increasing crime against women. In our tradition-bound society, certain attitudinal change and change in the mindset is needed to respect women and to ensure gender justice.
"Right from childhood years, children ought to be sensitised to respect women. A child should be taught to respect women in the society in the same way as he is taught to respect men. Gender equality should be made a part of the school curriculum," the judge said.
Justice Banumathi said school teachers and parents should be trained, not only to conduct regular personality-building and skill-enhancing exercise, but also to keep a watch on the actual behavioural pattern of children so as to make them gender-sensitised.
"The educational institutions, government institutions, the employers and all concerned must take steps to create awareness with regard to gender sensitisation and to respect women. Sensitisation of public on gender justice through TV, media and press should be welcomed," she said.
She suggested putting up banners and placards in public transport vehicles, illuminating bus stops and launching extra police patrol during odd hours.
"On the practical side, few suggestions are worthwhile to be considered. Banners and placards in the public transport vehicles like autos, taxis and buses etc. must be ensured. Use of street lights, illuminated bus stops and extra police patrol during odd hours must be ensured.
"Police/security guards must be posted at dark and lonely places like parks, streets etc. Mobile apps for immediate assistance of women should be introduced and effectively maintained," the judge said.
She said apart from effective implementation of various legislations protecting women, change in the mindset of the society at large and creating awareness in public on gender justice, would go a long way to combat violence against women.
"There are a number of legislations and numerous penal provisions to punish the offenders of violence against women. However, it becomes important to ensure that gender justice does not remain only on paper," the judge said.
ALSO READ: Amitabh Bachchan Bats For Gender Equality In A Powerful Twitter Post
gender equalityR BanumathiSC Judgeschool curriculumFirst Published: May 7, 2017, 8:27 PM IST
Chief Ministers of Naxal-Affected States to Meet to Devise New Strategy
Updated: May 7, 2017, 7:01 PM IST
File Photo of Indian Special Security Force personnel deployed for anti-Naxal operations performing a security sweep. (Photo credit: Dibyangshu Sarkar/ AFP/ Getty Images)
New Delhi: Chief ministers of Naxal-affected are to meet top civil and police officers on Monday to devise new ways to tackle the armed rebels.
The meeting, which comes in the wake of 25 CRPF men killed by a band of Maoists in Chhattisgarh, will be chaired by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh.
The meet will help firm up an anti-Naxal strategy to fight the guerillas in their hideouts in Chhattisgarh and other states in the coming days, a Home Ministry official told PTI.
The chief ministers of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal, Bihar, Maharashtra, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh have been invited to take part in the crucial meeting.
The Union home ministry said a holistic review of the situation will be undertaken covering a wide canvas of security and development issues, particularly infrastructure building.
District magistrates and superintendents of police of 35 of the worst-hit Naxalite-affected districts, along with heads of paramilitary forces and intelligence agencies, will attend the meeting.
The stress is likely to be on revamping the intelligence gathering mechanism, meticulous analysis of ongoing operations, identifying problem areas and seeking solutions for better results.
The home minister has told the security officials to look for out-of-the box solutions to the problem of successive attacks by Naxalites when security personnel oversee road repair or development work in the troubled areas.
Road construction and other development activities in the affected areas will also be discussed. The chief ministers may endorse an alternative modern technology which would help with the speedy completion of projects.
Home Ministry officials said currently 90 per cent of Maoist activities were limited to 35 districts, though they have a hold over pockets in 68 districts in 10 states.
The meeting will focus on devising new strategies to maintain the momentum achieved in 2016, notwithstanding a couple of incidents, the home ministry said in a statement.
It will include two sessions to discuss upon operational issues like role of States in Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) operations, raising and employment of India Reserve (IR) battalions and Special India Reserve Battalion (SIRB), etc, capacity building and intelligence issues like vacancies in state police forces, capacity building of state intelligence units, etc and other ministry-wise related matters.
The statement said the Central government has a multi-pronged strategy centred around security, development and ensuring rights and entitlements of local communities etc.
The Centre has been providing assistance to states in terms of CAPF battalions, intelligence, training and capacity building of state police forces.
It is also assisting the states through schemes that support building of infrastructure, specially road, railways and power etc.
Development issues will also be discussed with a view to ensure quick development of LWE-affected areas, the statement said.
(With PTI inputs)
ChattisgarhChief MinisterMaoistsnaxalFirst Published: May 7, 2017, 7:01 PM IST
WB Governor in Hospital After Nose Bleeding, Condition Stable
Updated: May 7, 2017, 6:46 PM IST
File Photo of Keshari Nath Tripathi, Governor of West Bengal. (Photo: Debajyoti Chakraborty/ NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Kolkata: West Bengal Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi was, on Sunday, admitted to a medical facility in South Kolkata after he bled from the nose.
Sources at Bellevue Clinic told News18 that his condition was stable.
“He started bleeding from the nose due to high blood pressure. He was admitted around 7am. We have decided to keep him under observation, but there is nothing to worry,” said the source, adding that a special medical team has been formed to look after him. Chief minister Mamata Banerjee is said to have called to enquire about his condition.
State education minister Partha Chatterjee and BJP leader Raju Banerjee visited the hospital.
Keshari Nath Tripathi became the Governor of West Bengal on July 24, 2014 and Governor of Bihar on November 27 the same year.
He is a veteran BJP leader and has also served as the speaker of Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly.
high blood pressureKeshari Nath TripathiMamata BanerjeeNose BleedFirst Published: May 7, 2017, 6:44 PM IST
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