Patna Rail-Cum-Road Bridge: Journey

Contents: 1. Need of Rail bridge at Patna. 2. Geotechnical investigations. 3. Seismic parameters (for rail bridge). 4.  Hydraulics at bridge site. 5. River training and protection works. 6. Bridge design parameters. 7. Midway change of ‘Rail bridge to rail cum road bridge’ a technology. 8. Ganga Bridge Patna – Foundation and guide bund. 9. Project cost and financial analysis. 10. Bearings for main bridge. 11. Rail approaches. 12. Superstructure. 

Bridging rivers is always a challenge to Civil Engineers. The construction of 4.556 km long mega Rail cum Road Bridge across river Ganges at Dighaghat/Patna by East Central Railway Construction Organisation is one-in-a-life time opportunity for the people involved with it. Work of this 4.556 km long bridge (36 x 123m + 2 x 64m) commenced on 3rd February, 2003 and was dedicated to the nation on 12th March, 2016 by Hon'ble Prime Minister. I was fortunate of being involved with this project during its last phase till commissioning. Documenting experiences during construction is a good practice. The present book is a step towards this, which deals with the various aspects encountered during construction and covers entire technical aspects since stage of conception till completion including in-course changes/improvements supported by design/drawings.