•  Content Creator : Ashmeet
• 2025-06-13

On  6th June, 2025, the Chenab Bridge in Jammu and Kashmir, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has captured the world’s attention for being the highest railway bridge ever built — standing at a stunning 359 meters above the Chenab River, even taller than the Eiffel Tower.

But behind this colossal structure is a story of brilliance, dedication, and quiet resilience — the story of Dr. G. Madhavi Latha, a professor at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, who played a key role for 17 years in turning this engineering dream into reality.

Meet Dr. G. Madhavi Latha

Dr. Madhavi Latha is not just an expert in geotechnical engineering — she is a trailblazer in a field traditionally dominated by men. She currently serves as a HAG (Higher Administrative Grade) Professor at IISc, one of India’s premier research institutions.

Her journey in engineering began with a B.Tech in Civil Engineering from Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University in 1992, where she graduated with first-class distinction. She went on to earn a gold medal in M.Tech (Geotechnical Engineering) from NIT Warangal, and later completed her PhD at IIT Madras in 2000.

• In recognition of her contributions to the field, she was awarded:
• Best Woman Geotechnical Researcher by the Indian Geotechnical Society (2021)

Included in Top 75 Women in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) in India (2022)

Her Role in the Chenab Bridge Project

When Afcons Infrastructure, the main contractor of the Chenab Bridge, needed a geotechnical expert in 2005, they turned to Dr. Madhavi Latha. She was then an Assistant Professor at IISc, and what began as a consulting assignment became a 17-year journey of solving one of India’s toughest engineering challenges.

Facing the Mountains

Her first site visit involved a boat ride on the Chenab River and a steep mountain climb — a fitting start to a project defined by tough terrain. Over the years, she and her team faced unpredictable geological conditions: fractured rocks, deep cavities, unstable slopes, and changing soil properties.

To tackle this, she introduced and championed a "design-as-you-go" strategy. Instead of relying solely on pre-made plans, her team made real-time adjustments based on the ground realities.

Innovations and Challenges

• Dr. Latha guided the design and placement of rock anchors that secured the bridge in unstable rock masses.
• She oversaw complex calculations and continuous design changes, ensuring the safety and durability of the structure.
• Her team developed construction methods that were not found in any textbooks or standard codes.

She later documented these experiences in a research paper titled “Design as You Go: The Case Study of Chenab Railway Bridge”, published in the Indian Geotechnical Journal’s special edition highlighting women engineers.

About the Bridge — A Marvel of Modern Engineering

While Dr. Latha prefers to keep the spotlight on the bridge, her contributions helped build what the Indian government has called the “biggest civil engineering challenge” in Indian Railways’ history.

Key facts about the Chenab Bridge:

• Height: 359 meters (Taller than the Eiffel Tower by 35 meters)
• Length: 1,315 meters
• Steel Used: 28,660 tonnes (equal to four Eiffel Towers)
• Concrete: 66,000 cubic meters
• Designed Life: 120 years
• Train Speed Capacity: Up to 100 km/h (and still functional at 30 km/h even if one pier fails)

It took 26 km of new roads just to transport construction equipment to the remote site.

A Quiet Victory

Her journey is a powerful reminder that greatness doesn’t always shout. Sometimes, it lies in patience, consistency, and a relentless pursuit of excellence, all qualities that Dr. Latha brought to the Chenab Bridge project.

Inspiring the Next Generation
Dr. Latha’s work is more than just an engineering accomplishment. It’s an inspiration for young women across India to pursue careers in science and technology. Her story proves that with passion, persistence, and expertise, even the highest goals can be achieved.