From a Village in Andhra to an Engineering Marvel: Dr. Madhavi Latha’s 17-Year Journey Behind the World’s Highest Railway Bridge

The iconic Chenab Railway Bridge in Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 6. It is world’s highest railway bridge, stands proudly 359 metres above the river, even taller than the Eiffel Tower. It connects Kashmir to the rest of India through a railway line for the first time, a dream that took years to come true. But behind this grand project is a quiet hero: Dr. G. Madhavi Latha, a woman from a small village in Andhra Pradesh.

 

 

Dr. Madhavi Latha spent 17 long years working on this project. She faced tough weather, difficult mountain rocks, and the challenge of building in one of the hardest locations in India. But she never gave up.

 

  

 

She’s a professor at IISc Bengaluru, one of the top institutes in the country. She helped the engineers understand the land, rocks, and how to build safely. Her advice and designs helped make the bridge strong enough to face earthquakes, strong winds, and extreme cold.

 

 

She completed her B.Tech in Civil Engineering from JNTU Kakinada in 1992. Then in 1994, she did her M.Tech in Geotechnical Engineering from NIT Warangal, where she was the topper. Later, she earned her Ph.D. from IIT Madras in 2000.

 

 

After that, she joined IISc Bengaluru as a professor in Civil Engineering. In 2005, she started working on the Chenab Bridge project and gave her full support and knowledge to it for the next 17 years.

 

 

 

 

She proved that India’s women scientists and engineers can lead even the most difficult missions.

 

 

 

People from all over India are now praising her. Businessman Anand Mahindra said her story is truly inspiring. A girl from a small village who became the brain behind this world-record bridge.

 

 

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu in a post on X said,"Another Telugu daughter has made India proud! I salute Professor G. Madhavi Latha Garu, one of the brilliant minds behind the world’s highest railway bridge over the Chenab River, inaugurated by Hon'ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi Ji on June 6. Hailing from a small village in Andhra Pradesh, she dedicated 17 years of hard work and sacrifice to build this architectural marvel for the nation.

 

 

I congratulate the entire team of engineers and construction workers on completing this unprecedented project, despite the challenging terrain and harsh weather conditions. Your contributions towards nation-building are inspiring.”

 

 

 

 

Many engineers who worked on the project said, “If it wasn’t for her, we wouldn’t have made it.” Her calm nature, deep knowledge, and patience made her the backbone of the project.

 

 

This bridge is not just about steel and cement. It’s about connecting Kashmir to the rest of India, about unity, and about the people who worked day and night to make it happen. And among them, Dr. Madhavi Latha’s name shines bright.