Mangaluru: South Western Railway completes regirdering work of bridge across Bhadra river

MANGALURU: South Western Railway (SWR) has completed the replacement of existing old meter gauge rebraced girder with metalised welded steel girder which will suit for 25 tonnes axle loading across the Bhadra river near Bhadravathi station. The bridge number 59 is located at 43/800 - 44/000 Km between Masarahalli and Bhadravathi station on the Birur - Shivamogga section of Mysuru division.


The old girders of bridge 59 were originally fabricated prior to 1926 and those metre gauge girders were rebraced to suit broad gauge track during gauge conversion in 1996. Now with the regirdering of this old bridge with metalized steel girder, the permanent speed restriction of 50 kmph imposed for goods traffic will be cancelled.

The bridge 59 is having a span of 11x18.30 meters over the perennial Bhadra River near Bhadravathi. This work was completed in record time of 7 days – from November 17 to 23 availing minimum blockage without affecting traffic. This regirdering work was taken during the month taking advantage of less water flow in the river during this period. The bridge has a height of 10 meters from river level to the bottom of the girder.

The regirdering was done with two road cranes of 250 tones capacity keeping an extra crane as standby. The work was managed by a group of 70 departmental staff led by deputy chief engineer, bridge line, Hubballi and other officials of the bridge line from Mysuru and Shivamogga town, chief public relations officer, South Western Railway, Hubballi, said.