SCoR Rehabilitates 74% of The Godavari Iconic Rail Bridge While Continuing Train Traffic
Railway officials have described the project as one of the most technically challenging bridge rehabilitation works undertaken by Indian Railways
VIJAYAWADA: South Coast Railway (SCoR) has replaced 500 of the 672 ageing hanger cables of the historic Godavari Bow String Arch Railway Bridge at Rajamahendravaram, thereby completing the bridge’s rehabilitation project up to 74.4 per cent while continuing uninterrupted train operations.
The bridge on the Vijayawada-Visakhapatnam section is undergoing rehabilitation with the replacement of corroded DINA hanger cables with a modern corrosion-resistant cable system of international standards. Alongside, rehabilitation of 20 of the bridge's 28 spans has also been completed.
Railway officials have described the project as one of the most technically challenging bridge rehabilitation works undertaken by Indian Railways. This is because cable replacement is being carried out under live railway traffic while ensuring the bridge's structural stability.
The new hanger cables comprise high ultimate tensile strength (UTS) PSC strands with a four-layer corrosion protection system imported from Europe, wax-filled anchorages, and advanced stressing techniques developed by the Italian cable-stayed bridge specialists in collaboration with engineers from IIT Bombay. The upgraded system is expected to enhance the bridge's safety, durability, and service life.
To strengthen structural safety, SCoR has installed a Bridge Health Monitoring System (BHMS) using Australian instrumentation technology. More than 272 smart sensors have been deployed to monitor structural behaviour, including arch movement, hanger forces, deck performance, wind loads, and environmental conditions. A dedicated BHMS laboratory on the Rajamahendravaram side of the bridge analyses cloud-based real-time data to facilitate predictive maintenance.
Divisional railway manager Mohit Sonakiya said the successful replacement of 500 hanger cables without disrupting railway operations reflects the engineering capability and commitment of bridge engineers and field teams. He said the project demonstrates South Coast Railway's commitment to preserving engineering heritage, while maintaining high standards of safety and operational reliability.
Senior divisional engineer (Bridges) P. Srinivasa Rao said the rehabilitation involves precision engineering, continuous structural monitoring, and phased execution under stringent safety protocols to ensure the bridge's long-term structural integrity.
The rehabilitation is being executed under an EPC contract and is progressing as scheduled. On completion, it is expected to significantly improve the reliability and longevity of one of India's iconic and heritage railway bridges.
