Rail bridge moves incrementally8217;

In the first phase, the metro rail will cover a distance of about nine kilometres km connecting Shahdara to Tis Hazari. The metro bridge on the Yamuna is being built by a technique, used for the second time in the country, known as the Incremental Launching IL.The IL technique was used for the very first time by the Konkan railways to build the Panvel Via-duct.

Explaining its operation, L. Meghnani, the Chief Engineer, in-charge of the Delhi Metro project says: 8220;We place the concrete girders on the platform first. Then we pull the girder with the help of a pre-stressing jack. The girders are also pushed from behind so that the movement is uniform.8221;

He adds,8220; We have also placed lateral restraint on either sides so that while moving the alignment is not disturbed.8221;

The bridge will have 13 pre-fabricated concrete segments which will be woven together by the IL method. Each segment weighs about 700 tonnes which could be roughly compared to the weight of up to 700 fully loaded trucks.