New Delhi: Imagine growing up in a small village where the idea of engineering was as distant as the stars. For Dr. G. Madhavi Latha, hailing from Yedugundlapadu in Andhra Pradesh, this was her reality. Yet, this daughter of farmers became the first engineer from her village and a crucial force behind the Chenab Bridge, the world’s highest railway arch bridge, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 6, 2025, in Jammu and Kashmir.

Standing an awe-inspiring 359 meters above the Chenab River - taller than the Eiffel Tower - this 1,315-meter-long steel arch bridge is a cornerstone of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Link (USBRL), connecting Kashmir to the rest of India. Designed to endure earthquakes, 260 kmph winds, and sub-zero temperatures, the Rs 1,486 crore bridge is a testament to human ingenuity. At its heart is Dr. Latha, a geotechnical engineering professor at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, who dedicated 17 years to this project.

As a geotechnical consultant for Afcons and Northern Railways, Dr. Latha tackled the Himalayan terrain’s fractured rocks, hidden cavities, and hydrological hazards. Her innovative “design-as-you-go” approach, detailed in her paper Design as You Go: The Case Study of Chenab Railway Bridge, allowed real-time adaptations, including cement grouting and thousands of rock anchors to stabilize the bridge’s foundation. This ensured the massive, unsupported steel arch could withstand nature’s toughest challenges.

Dr. Latha’s journey is as remarkable as the bridge itself. A gold medalist in M.Tech from NIT Warangal and a PhD from IIT Madras, she joined IISc in 2003, becoming the first woman faculty in its Civil Engineering department. She even fought for a women’s toilet, paving the way for a more inclusive environment. Honored with awards like the 2021 Best Woman Geotechnical Researcher and listed among India’s Top 75 Women in STEAM in 2022, Dr. Latha’s legacy is etched in steel and stone, symbolizing grit, innovation, and nation-building.

BI Bureau