From small Andhra village to world record: Anand Mahindra salutes woman professor behind the Chenab railway bridge

Economic Times

4 hours ago

G. Madhavi Latha and Anand Mahindra
Industrialist Anand Mahindra in his Monday Motivation posts applauds excellence in different fields, but this time, his admiration spotlighted a quiet trailblazer whose contribution shaped a national engineering marvel. 'An accomplished geotechnical engineer and Professor at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, she played a pivotal role in the construction of the Chenab Railway Bridge. A commitment that she fulfilled over 17 years,' Mahindra wrote in a heartfelt post, referring to Dr. G. Madhavi Latha. He concluded with what has now become a signature phrase of his motivational posts: 'Dr. G. Madhavi Latha Garu is my #MondayMotivation.'And rightly so. As India celebrated the inauguration of the Chenab Bridge—the world's highest railway bridge—on June 6, the focus naturally fell on the grand structure: 359 metres above the riverbed, towering even 35 metres higher than the Eiffel Tower. But for Mahindra and others who looked beneath the surface, it was a moment to honour the people behind the achievement—especially the unsung engineers and scientists like Dr. Latha who laboured for years behind the scenes. — anandmahindra (@anandmahindra)
The Chenab Bridge, a Rs 1,486 crore project and part of the ambitious Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Link (USBRL), has been hailed as one of the most challenging feats in Indian railway history. The region's rugged Himalayan terrain, unstable slopes, and extreme weather posed daunting challenges. Dr. Latha, a specialist in geotechnical engineering, served as a consultant for 17 years, advising on structural stability, slope safety, and the optimal placement of rock anchors that would keep the bridge's foundations secure. Her academic journey is just as inspiring. Hailing from a small village in Andhra Pradesh, she completed her B.Tech in Civil Engineering from JNTU in 1992, followed by an M.Tech in Geotechnical Engineering from NIT Warangal—where she topped her class with a gold medal. She then earned her PhD from IIT Madras in 2000. Today, she serves as a professor at IISc Bengaluru.Her expertise was so integral to the project that she authored a paper on the bridge's complex geotechnical challenges, published in the Indian Geotechnical Journal. Dr. Latha's contributions have earned her national recognition, including the Best Woman Geotechnical Researcher Award in 2021 and a spot among India's 'Top 75 Women in STEAM' in 2022.Chandrababu Naidu, former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, also praised her contribution. 'Another Telugu daughter has made India proud,' he posted on X, celebrating her 17-year journey of relentless commitment. He also commended the entire team of engineers and workers for overcoming the harsh landscape and unpredictable climate of Jammu and Kashmir.What makes the story even more remarkable is the project's humble beginning. Before even a single crane could be brought in, access to the site had to be carved out—literally. Initially, engineers and workers used mules and horses to navigate the treacherous terrain. Temporary tracks were laid and eventually replaced with 11 km and 12 km of permanent access roads on the north and south banks, respectively. These roads enabled the transportation of construction equipment and materials to the remote site.
As Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the bridge, walking across the towering steel arch while waving the national flag, it symbolised more than infrastructure—it was the realisation of an audacious dream to link Kashmir to the rest of the nation via rail. And for Anand Mahindra, it was also a moment to reflect on the persistence, intellect, and patriotism of individuals like Dr. G. Madhavi Latha, who made it possible.