Who is Madhavi Latha? Meet the IISc professor who played a key role in building the world's tallest Chenab Bridge in Kashmir

When Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated India's boldest railway project, the Chenab Bridge in Jammu and Kashmir, on Friday, the spotlight fell not just on the world's tallest railway arch but also on one of the key minds behind it, Professor G Madhavi Latha of the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru.

For nearly two decades, Professor Latha, a rock engineering expert from IISc's civil engineering department, played a key advisory role in the design and construction of the ₹1,486 crore Chenab Bridge, an engineering feat that now connects the Kashmir Valley to the rest of the country by rail, the Deccan Herald reported.

The bridge, which is 359 metres above the river bed, is higher than the Eiffel Tower and spans 1,315 metres across the rugged terrain of the Himalayas.

Her contributions included guiding the stability of slopes and the design of the bridge foundations, a crucial aspect in one of India’s most geologically challenged regions, reports Deccan Herald. As part of IISc’s long-term consultancy support for the project, Lata was engaged by Northern Railways and project contractor Afcons in 2005.

Unlike conventional construction methods, the team adopted a “design-as-you-go” approach. “We had to constantly adapt, as the initial geological data did not match the reality of the rock conditions when we started digging,” Lata told DH. Initially, another IISc faculty member worked with her on the project, but when he moved away after a few years, Lata took over the responsibility until the full-speed train trials began in 2022.

On social media, IISc acknowledged the achievement. “We are proud of the contribution of Prof Madhavi Latha and her team at #ChenabBridge,” the institute posted on X, noting their work on slope stability, rock anchors, and foundation design to counter geological hazards.