World’s Tallest Railway Pier Bridge Completed in Noney, Manipur

Manipur's Railway Pier Bridge: The Noney railway bridge withstood two major natural disasters which stuck the area.

Noney, the lesser-known district of Manipur is now grabbing headlines for having the world’s tallest railway pier bridge. Being dubbed as an engineering marvel in the world, the pier bridge at 141 meter is an integral part of the 111 km long Jiribam – Imphal Railway line project.

Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) achieved a remarkable engineering milestone with the successful completion of the girder launching on the iconic Bridge No. 164, known as the Noney Bridge.

An Engineering Marvel

The final span of the bridge was successfully erected recently, completing the launch of all eight spans of this monumental infrastructure project. What sets this bridge apart globally, is its record-breaking piers—P3 and P4—each rising to an astounding height of 141 meters, making them the tallest bridge piers in the world.This strategic design ensures both structural stability and the ability to withstand challenging terrain and environmental conditions, reinforcing the bridge’s importance in enhancing regional connectivity and development.

Designed to withstand complex geological and climatic challenges of the region, the bridge spans difficult hilly terrain and deep valleys. The successful completion of launching work was made possible through meticulous planning, cutting-edge construction techniques and the dedication of the entire NFR team.

It is worth mentioning that the Noney railway bridge withstood two major natural disasters which stuck the area.

On January 4, an earthquake measuring 6.7 on the Richter scale rocked Manipur. The epicentre of the earthquake was Tamenglong which was just 37 KM away from the then under construction Noney bridge. The earthquake caused widespread devastation in Manipur, but Noney bridge withstood the shockwaves.

Again, on the night of 30 June 2022 there was a cloudburst in Noney district triggering a massive landslide near the Tupul railway construction site. An entire hill was ravaged. It killed at least 58 people and three people were missing. Eighteen people were injured. Twenty-nine Indian Army personnel and
29 civilians were among the deceased. The massive landslide occurred just 10 KM away from the Noney bridge, but it withstood natural disaster without a scratch.

The Jiribam – Imphal new line railway project is one of the crucial connectivity projects for the North-eastern region. The section from Jiribam to Khongsang has already been commissioned in September 2022. Spanning over 55.36 km, the Jiribam – Khongsang section currently operates regular goods train services to Khongsang carrying essential commodities. As the project further advances, the Khongsang – Noney (18.25 km) and the Noney – Imphal (37.02 km) sections are scheduled to be commissioned in the coming years. Upon completion, the Jiribam – Imphal railway line will transform connectivity in Manipur, driving economic growth and regional development.

World’s highest pier bridge in Noney, Manipur completed.The bridge withstood the 2016 major earthquake in Manipur and a dangerous landslide in Noney in 2022 which claimed the lives of at least 58 people.

A large landslide occurred in Noney district of Manipur near the Tupul railway construction site on the night of 30 June 2022. It killed at least 58 people and three people were missing. Eighteen people were injured. Twenty-nine Indian Army personnel and 29 civilians were among the deceased. Of the missing three people, two were civilians and one was an Indian Army personnel.

Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has achieved a remarkable engineering milestone with the successful completion of girder launching on the iconic Bridge No. 164, popularly known as the Noney Bridge, in Manipur. The Noney Bridge, an engineering marvel, is considered as the world’s tallest Railway pier bridge of 141 meter that is an integral part of the 111 km long Jiribam – Imphal Railway line project.

The final span of the bridge was successfully erected recently, completing the launch of all eight spans of this monumental infrastructure project. This achievement marks a significant milestone in the construction of the bridge, which is not only an engineering marvel but also a vital link in the region’s transport network. What sets this bridge apart globally is its record-breaking piers—P3 and P4—each rising to an astounding height of 141 meters, making them the tallest bridge piers in the world. The bridge comprises a configuration comprising steel spans arranged as 1×71.5m + 5x106m + 1×71.5m + 1x30m. This strategic design ensures both structural stability and the ability to withstand challenging terrain and environmental conditions, reinforcing the bridge’s importance in enhancing regional connectivity and development.

Designed to withstand complex geological and climatic challenges of the region, the bridge spans difficult hilly terrain and deep valleys. The successful completion of its superstructure launching reflects the dedication, innovation and engineering excellence of the teams involved, working tirelessly in one of the most challenging environments in India. The successful completion of launching work was made possible through meticulous planning, cutting-edge construction techniques and the dedication of the entire NFR team.

The Jiribam – Imphal new line railway project is one of the crucial connectivity projects for the North-eastern region. The section from Jiribam to Khongsang has already been commissioned in September 2022. Spanning over 55.36 km, the Jiribam – Khongsang section currently operates regular goods train services to Khongsang carrying essential commodities. As the project further advances, the Khongsang – Noney (18.25 km) and the Noney – Imphal (37.02 km) sections are scheduled to be commissioned in the coming years. Upon completion, the Jiribam – Imphal railway line will transform connectivity in Manipur, driving economic growth and regional development.

Also Read: Manipur Govt Expresses Deep Regret Over Manipur Name Covering Incident

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