When India announced the official trial operation of the world's tallest railway bridge, Chenab, the global media was in an uproar. The 359-meter-tall steel monster, which took more than 20 years to complete, not only surpassed China's Beipanjiang Bridge, but also set a new world record. However, behind this seemingly glorious achievement, there is a ridiculous "Indian" story of bridge building.
In 2002, India launched this ambitious project. Their goal was simple: to build the world's tallest railway bridge, defeat China, and show the world India's engineering prowess. At that time, India was full of confidence and expected to complete the project in seven years. Who knows, this wait is more than 20 years.
Located in Raasi District, Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir, the "Chenab" Bridge spans the Janab River with a total length of 1,315 meters. At the beginning of the design, Indian engineers vowed that the bridge would be able to withstand 12-magnitude winds and 8-magnitude earthquakes. Doesn't that sound amazing? It's a pity that reality quickly gave India a resounding slap in the face.
In 2009, the year of its supposed completion, Indian engineers were embarrassed to find that they simply couldn't solve the bridge's wind resistance problem. And so, a global search for help began. Interestingly, China, the world's infrastructure powerhouse, was the first to be excluded by India. The reason is simple: this bridge is to surpass China, how can China be involved? Eventually, India brought in bridge experts from Poland, and the project was extended by another seven years.
In 2016, new problems followed. The key parts of the bridge cannot be closed! After turning to the Polish experts again, the reply was: "There is no problem with the drawings, it is your construction problem." Polish experts even suggested that India hire a "more professional neighborhood construction team." The hint could not be more obvious, but India is still stubborn, preferring to hire an international team at a high price rather than turn to China for help.
Finally, in 2021, the "Chenab" Bridge, which has gone through countless twists and turns, completed the arch bridge closure. However, the Indian spirit of "slow work, meticulous work" is once again on full display. It took another 3 years for the acceptance trial operation! Just this year, the bridge, which cost about 1.3 billion yuan, finally began trial operation.
In stark contrast to this is China's Beipanjiang Bridge. Also a world-class high bridge, the Beipanjiang Bridge was completed and opened to traffic in only 1,434 days. Not only did it set a world record at the time, but it also surprised American experts with its unique steel truss cable-stayed structure and load-bearing capacity of up to 1,800 megapascals.
Looking back on the construction process of the "Chenab" bridge, people can't help but sigh at India's persistence and stubbornness. They would rather spend more than 20 years and pay a huge price to build this bridge that "surpasses China". However, in this long process, China's infrastructure construction has already advanced by leaps and bounds, completing one engineering miracle after another that has amazed the world.
It is undeniable that the completion of the "Chenab" bridge is indeed a milestone in the history of Indian engineering. It showcases India's perseverance in the face of difficulties and its determination to excel. However, the bridge also exposes India's many shortcomings in terms of technical prowess, project management and international cooperation.
It is worth mentioning that this is not the first time that India has "competed" with China in the field of infrastructure. In recent years, with the rapid development of India's economy, they have shown a strong willingness to "catch up with China" in many fields. From population to GDP growth to space exploration, India always seems to have China in sight of a catch-up.
However, real development should not be based on simple comparisons and imitations. Each country has its own unique national conditions and development path. India has abundant human resources and a thriving IT industry, which are its unique advantages. Rather than spending 20 years building a bridge that "surpasses China", it is better to focus on areas that can truly promote national development.
The "Chenab" bridge may give us some inspiration. Technological progress and national development should not be a game. In today's globalized world, international cooperation often brings more opportunities and faster progress. If India had put aside its preconceived notions and cooperated more with its international partners, including China, it might not have spent 20 years on a bridge.
In any case, the completion of the "Chenab" bridge is to be congratulated. It is not only an engineering miracle, but also another testimony of human beings challenging themselves and conquering nature. It is hoped that the bridge will operate safely for the next 120 years, as stated in the design, and contribute to India's economic development and improved livelihood.
On the international stage, China and India, as the world's largest developing countries, shoulder the heavy responsibility of leading the development of countries in the Global South. Instead of worrying about the gains and losses of one time and one place, we should work together to address the common challenges facing humanity. After all, true strength is not to surpass others, but to surpass oneself.
When we look up again at the stunning 359-metre height of the Jenab Bridge, perhaps we should wonder: should we also pursue a wider field of view while pursuing height? As we build infrastructure, are we also building a more open and inclusive world? This may be the most thought-provoking revelation left to us by the "Chenab" Bridge.