Latest news with #GMadhaviLatha
NDTV
11-06-2025
- Science
- NDTV
Pics: Meet Madhavi Latha, Engineer Behind World's Highest Rail Bridge
G Madhavi Latha, a professor at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bengaluru, is one of the major contributors to the successful construction of the world's highest railway bridge - Chenab Bridge - in Jammu and Kashmir. The Chenab Bridge, inaugurated by PM Modi last week, is the world's highest railway bridge. Madhavi Latha was involved for 17 years in the project as a geotechnical consultant. She is presently a Higher Administrative Grade (HAG) professor and is also the Chair of the Centre for Sustainable Technologies at IISc. Photo Credit: X/@deepak_redde Dr Latha and her team adopted a "design-as-you-go approach" to overcome all obstacles. This meant innovating in real-time based on geological conditions such as fractured rocks, hidden cavities, and varying rock properties, which were not apparent in early surveys.
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Business Standard
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
'Don't make me unnecessarily famous', says Chenab bridge project engineer
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Chenab Bridge in Jammu and Kashmir last Friday. Soaring 359 metres above the Chenab River—35 metres higher than the Eiffel Tower—it is now the tallest railway arch bridge in the world. As the nation celebrated this engineering feat, G Madhavi Latha, a key contributor to the project, offered a humble tribute to the many behind-the-scenes heroes who made it possible. 'I salute the millions of unsung heroes,' said G Madhavi Latha, a Higher Administrative Grade (HAG) professor at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru. She served as a geotechnical consultant to Afcons, the engineering firm that executed the construction of the Chenab Bridge. 'My role was to help in developing slope stabilisation schemes and design of foundations on slope,' she wrote in a LinkedIn post shortly after the inauguration. A veteran of the project for 17 years, Latha distanced herself from headlines that referred to her as the 'woman behind the mission' or someone who 'performed miracles to build the bridge'. She called such descriptions 'baseless' and urged the public not to single her out. 'Please don't make me unnecessarily famous,' she said. 'I am one of the thousands who deserve appreciation for Chenab Bridge.' Currently attending a conference in Spain, she expressed gratitude to those who reached out with congratulations. 'Many fathers have written to me saying that they want their daughters to become like me. Many young kids have written to me that they now want to take up Civil Engineering as their career choice,' Latha shared. In a touching tribute, she said, 'All glory belongs to Indian Railways,' acknowledging both the national transporter and Afcons for executing what many once considered an impossible task. The Chenab Bridge is part of the ambitious Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Link (USBRL) project, designed to enhance connectivity in the Kashmir Valley. Built at a cost of ₹1,486 crore, the project faced formidable challenges including harsh terrain, seismic vulnerabilities, and unpredictable geology. Latha and her team played a pivotal role in steering the bridge through these obstacles. Their approach—described as 'design-as-you-go'—meant adapting to real-time discoveries such as fractured rock layers and hidden cavities that earlier surveys had not detected. Her expertise in rock anchor design and slope stability was critical in ensuring the safety and success of the project. She has documented this technical journey in a paper titled 'Design as You Go: The Case Study of Chenab Railway Bridge', published in the Indian Geotechnical Journal's special issue dedicated to women engineers.
Time of India
10-06-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Who is Dr. G Madhavi Latha, the geotechnical genius behind India's Chenab Bridge
The Chenab Railway Bridge in Jammu and Kashmir , upon its complete construction, became the world's highest railway single-arch bridge. Inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 6, 2025, this architectural marvel stands 359 meters above the Chenab River, surpassing even the Eiffel Tower in height. Going across 1,315 meters, the bridge is an important component of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project, aiming to provide all-weather rail connectivity to the Kashmir Valley. While the bridge itself is a symbol of engineering excellence, the journey to its completion was paved with challenges. At the forefront of this endeavor was Dr. G Madhavi Latha, a distinguished professor at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru. Her expertise and dedication were important in overcoming the region's complex geological and environmental hurdles. Who is Dr. G Madhavi Latha? Dr. G Madhavi Latha is a renowned figure in the field of civil engineering, specialising in geotechnical and rock engineering. She completed her in Civil Engineering from Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University in 1992, followed by an from NIT Warangal. In 2000, she earned her Ph.D. in Geotechnical Engineering from IIT Madras. Before joining IISc in 2004, she served as a faculty member at IIT Guwahati. At IISc, she became the first female faculty member in the Civil Engineering Department. The professor said on the IISc website, "Back then, there were no exclusive toilets for women in the department. I had to really fight to get a women's toilet in the geotechnical engineering building." Over the years, Dr. Latha has received numerous accolades, including the Best Woman Geotechnical Researcher award from the Indian Geotechnical Society in 2021 and recognition among the 'Top 75 Women in STEAM' in India in 2022. What was her role in the Chenab Railway Bridge Project? Dr. Latha's involvement in the Chenab Railway Bridge project spanned 17 years, during which she served as a geotechnical consultant. Her primary responsibility was to address the tough challenges posed by the region's rugged terrain and unpredictable geological conditions. The project's success hinged on innovative solutions to stabilise slopes, design strong foundations, and ensure the structural toughness of the bridge. A notable area of Dr. Latha's approach was the adoption of a 'design-as-you-go' method. This strategy allowed her team to respond dynamically to unforeseen geological anomalies, such as fractured rocks and hidden cavities. As she noted in her paper 'Design as You Go: The Case Study of Chenab Railway Bridge', "Construction of a civil engineering marvel like the Chenab bridge posed many challenges from planning to completion. A rigid design with fixed dimensions and pre-determined solutions would not have been feasible." Her team's efforts included the installation of rock anchors and the implementation of slope stabilisation techniques to withstand seismic activities and extreme weather conditions. These interventions were crucial in ensuring the bridge's resilience and longevity. IISc acknowledged Dr. Latha's contributions on X, stating, 'We are proud of Prof Madhavi Latha & her team's contribution to the Chenab Bridge inaugurated by Hon'ble PM Narendra Modi. The team worked on stability of slopes, design & construction of foundations, design of slope stabilisation systems, incl. rock anchors to withstand hazards.'
Time of India
10-06-2025
- Science
- Time of India
'Don't make me famous': IISc woman professor's response to praise for Chenab Railway bridge goes viral
At a time when social media often turns professionals into overnight celebrities, a quiet and humble post by an Indian scientist is winning hearts across the country. Dr. G Madhavi Latha , a geotechnical engineering professor at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), recently took to LinkedIn to acknowledge the inauguration of the world's highest railway bridge—the Chenab Bridge. But instead of basking in the spotlight, her post urged restraint: 'Please don't make me unnecessarily famous.' Her message, laced with humility and clarity, is going viral for all the right reasons. On June 6, India celebrated the inauguration of the Chenab Railway Bridge in Jammu and Kashmir, an engineering marvel that stands 359 metres above the riverbed, 35 metres taller than the Eiffel Tower. As images of the breathtaking bridge began flooding timelines, so did tributes to the minds behind it. Among them was Dr. Latha, who played a key role in the project's structural stability and slope design, but insists her contribution was just one among thousands. Her LinkedIn Post 'I was a geotechnical consultant to AFCONS,' she wrote, explaining that her role focused on developing slope stabilisation schemes and designing foundations on the precarious Himalayan terrain. She added that headlines calling her 'the woman behind the mission' or claiming she 'performed miracles' were baseless. 'There are millions of unsung heroes to whom I salute today,' she wrote, adding that all credit belongs to Indian Railways and the entire engineering team. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Elegant New Scooters For Seniors In 2024: The Prices May Surprise You Mobility Scooter | Search Ads Learn More Undo The Chenab Bridge, a Rs 1,486 crore endeavour, is part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Link (USBRL), one of India's most ambitious and challenging infrastructure projects. The mountainous terrain, harsh weather, and unstable slopes made the engineering feat anything but ordinary. Dr. Latha's technical guidance spanned nearly two decades, and her published paper on the bridge's geotechnical complexities has been widely appreciated within the engineering community. You Might Also Like: From small Andhra village to world record: Anand Mahindra salutes woman professor behind the Chenab railway bridge Yet, Dr. Latha, currently in Spain for a conference, used her viral moment to redirect attention to the collaborative nature of national projects. She acknowledged the emotional outpouring from families and students who said she inspired them, but gently reminded the public that she was 'just one among thousands.' About Dr Latha Dr. Latha's journey, however, is undeniably inspiring. Raised in a small village in Andhra Pradesh, she earned her from JNTU, her from NIT Warangal (where she won a gold medal), and a PhD from IIT Madras. Now a senior professor at IISc Bengaluru , she has received several accolades, including the Best Woman Geotechnical Researcher Award (2021) and recognition among India's 'Top 75 Women in STEAM' (2022).
Indian Express
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Hailed for work on Chenab Bridge project, Professor Dr G Madhavi Latha reacts: ‘Don't make me unnecessarily famous'
Dr G Madhavi Latha, the Indian Institute of Science professor who worked on the Chenab Bridge marvel, is winning plaudits on social media. The 1,315 long bridge, built 359 meters above the river, was officially inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 6. As social media celebrated Latha for her 17-year-long contribution to the project, she urged people not to make her 'unnecessarily famous'. In a lengthy post on LinkedIn, Latha revealed that several fathers have written to her wanting their daughters to become like her. 'All glory of the planning, design and construction goes to Indian Raliways and AFCONS. Thousands of people have significantly contributed in different ways for the construction of this iconic bridge. There are millions of unsung heroes to whom I salute today. My role as a geotechnical consultant to AFCONS was to help in developing slope stabilization schemes and design of foundations on slope,' she wrote. 'Many fathers have written to me saying that they want their daughters to become like me. Many young kids have written to me that they now want to take up Civil Engineering as their career choice. I am extremely happy about this. Thanks to all Indians who have poured congratulatory messages to me,' she added. Concluding the post, Latha urged people to respect her privacy, highlighting the thousands others who contributed to the Chenab Bridge project. 'Please remember that I am one of the thousands who deserve appreciation for Chenab bridge. Please don't make me unnecessarily famous. I am right now in Spain, attending a conference. I request all of you to respect my privacy,' she wrote. See the post here: From Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu to business tycoon Anand Mahindra, several prominent figures have hailed Latha, dedicating posts to her on social media. The Chenab Bridge is a steel arch marvel designed to withstand seismic activity and strong winds, enhancing connectivity between Jammu and Srinagar.
