Engineer’s Day is celebrated every year on 15th September to commemorate the engineering stalwart Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya. A pioneer in his field, Sir Visvesvaraya is attributed for inventing the Block System for dams which is nothing but the automated doors that shut on the occasion of water overflow. He was awarded the highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna, in 1955.
[Source-Wikimedia]
Let us take a look at the different engineering marvels in India that were built by the most talented and proficient engineers in our country.
7 Astounding Engineering Marvels in India
1. Pir Panjal Railway Tunnel, Jammu & Kashmir
Also known as Banihal Railway Tunnel, the Pir Panjal Railway Tunnel is an 11.2km-long tunnel built at an altitude of 1440ft located on the Pir Panjal ranges of the Himalayas. It is the longest tunnel in India and the second-longest in Asia. The tunnel connects Bichleri Valley of Banihal to Qazigund and is also a vital link connecting Udhampur to Baramulla. It was built by the Hindustan Construction Company.
2. Bandra-Worli Sea Link, Maharashtra
An astounding bridge that connects the western suburbs of Mumbai to South Mumbai, Bandra-Worli Sea Link or the Rajiv Gandhi Sea Link is an engineering marvel in India worth visiting. A cable-stayed bridge built with pre-stressed concrete-steel viaducts on either side, Bandra-Worli Sea Link is the first 8-lane structure project that consists of seismic arrestors and can withstand earthquakes up to 7.0 on the Richter scale. This was also constructed by the Hindustan Construction Company.
3. Pamban Bridge, Tamil Nadu
The Pamban Railway bridge that was built in 1914 is more than 100 years old and connects Mandapam town with Pamban Island and Rameswaram. This engineering marvel is India’s first sea rail bridge project that flaunts a double-leaf bascule section in the midway which can be raised to let ships pass below. The incredible structure, built with amazing precision and design, still enthrals travellers passing through it via trains or ships!
4. Mahatma Gandhi Setu, Bihar
Mahatma Gandhi Setu is a bridge that is built on top of the river Ganga in Bihar, and it connects Patna to Hajipur. With a total length of more than 5kms, it is the third-longest river bridge in India. The bridge was opened for public use in 1982 by the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The bridge is an example of the cantilever segmental construction method and has two lanes, one upstream and another downstream.
5. Auroville Dome or Matrimandir, Tamil Nadu
Another astounding example of engineering marvel in India is the Auroville Dome present in Auroville, Tamil Nadu. It is also called the Matrimandir or Temple of the Mother and is an edifice of spiritual significance to integral yoga practitioners. The structure was completed in 1971. Matrimandir is a huge sphere with 12 petals and golden discs that reflect the sunlight providing the dome brilliant radiance.
6. Panval Nadi Viaduct, Maharashtra
A 424-metre long bridge built by the Konkan Railways, Panval Nadi Viaduct is a superstructure on top of the Panval River in Ratnagiri, Maharashtra. It is a single-cell continuous prestressed concrete box girder with nine intermediate spans and two end spans. It is the second tallest bridge in Asia. This structure won the “Most Outstanding Concrete Structure in India Award” from the American Concrete Institute.
7. Statue of Unity
A mammoth statue built in the honour of the Iron Man of India, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the Statue of Unity proudly stands as the tallest structure in the world! The massive project was undertaken and successfully completed by Larson & Toubro in 2018, and it was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. A total of 135 tonnes of iron was used to erect this colossal statue that splendidly stands on the Narmada river. It is indeed an engineering marvel in India that Indians are proud of.
Here’s the list of 7 awe-inspiring engineering marvels in India that you must know about. If you’ve travelled to or visited any of these structures, do let us know your experience in the comments below.
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