Challenges in Bridging Indian Rivers

Abstract

The Indian subcontinent has been gifted with several major rivers, most of them meeting either the Arabian Sea or the Bay of Bengal. Constructing bridges across major rivers and creeks has been a challenge in view of the large flood plains, deep scour of river beds, bank erosion, etc.Long-span bridges with caisson foundations have been the preferred choice for major river/creek bridges in view of the high cost of the foundations. The foundations of these bridges are usually very deep and the construction proceeds at a relatively slow pace, with an element of uncertainty in the time required for completion. With better equipment and corresponding quality control, construction of large-diameter pile foundations has emerged as a faster and reliable option. Developments in pre-cast segmental construction have also contributed to a gradual shift in the preferred span and foundation type to ensure much shorter construction periods.This paper presents a brief history of the landmark bridges constructed across the major rivers in India and also discusses the present scenario and engineering challenges in bridging Indian rivers, including a case study.