Indian Railways has achieved a major engineering milestone by replacing 500 of the 672 corroded hanger cables on the iconic Godavari Bow String Arch Railway Bridge connecting Kovvur and Rajamahendravaram in Andhra Pradesh. Executed by the South Coast Railway (SCoR) Zone, the rehabilitation work has been completed while maintaining uninterrupted train operations, with nearly 74% of the bridge restoration now finished.
The Godavari Bow String Arch Bridge, commissioned in 1997, is one of Asia’s longest prestressed concrete arch railway bridges and serves as a vital link on the busy Howrah–Chennai main line. The rehabilitation programme was undertaken after inspections identified corrosion in several hanger cables, prompting Indian Railways to initiate a comprehensive structural strengthening project to enhance the bridge’s long-term safety and operational reliability.
The replacement work involved installing advanced high-strength prestressed steel (PSC) strand cables equipped with a four-layer European corrosion protection system. The stressing methodology was developed with technical support from Italian cable-stayed bridge specialists, while structural monitoring and engineering validation were carried out in consultation with experts from IIT Bombay, ensuring that the rehabilitation meets international safety standards.
Railway officials described the project as one of the most technically challenging bridge rehabilitation works undertaken by Indian Railways, as the cable replacement is being carried out without disrupting passenger or freight train services. Special engineering techniques and continuous structural monitoring have enabled the bridge to remain operational throughout the rehabilitation process while maintaining its structural stability.
The remaining 172 hanger cables will be replaced in subsequent phases. Once the rehabilitation is fully completed, the project is expected to significantly extend the service life of the iconic bridge, improve operational safety, and ensure reliable rail connectivity across the Godavari River for decades to come, supporting one of India’s busiest railway corridors.
