Meet Dr Madhavi Latha, the IISc professor behind world's highest Chenab bridge
Dr G Madhavi Latha, a distinguished professor at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, and an engineer, has been instrumental in the development of the Chenab Rail Bridge, the world's highest railway bridge. Located in Jammu and Kashmir, this bridge stands 359 meters above the Chenab River and is part of a crucial railway project aimed at improving connectivity.Andra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu congratulated Dr Latha for her 17-year dedication to work towards building the world's highest railway bridge.advertisementIn a post on X, the chief minister wrote, "Another Telugu daughter has made India proud! I salute Professor G. Madhavi Latha Garu, one of the brilliant minds behind the world's highest railway bridge over the Chenab River, inaugurated by Hon'ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi Ji on June 6. Hailing from a small village in Andhra Pradesh, she dedicated 17 years of hard work and sacrifice to build this architectural marvel for the nation."
He also applauded the entire team for successfully completing this milestone. He added, "I congratulate the entire team of engineers and construction workers on completing this unprecedented project, despite the challenging terrain and harsh weather conditions. Your contributions towards nation-building are inspiring."
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PROFESSOR MADHAVI LATHA'S EDUCATIONDr Latha completed her BTech in Civil Engineering from Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Hyderabad, in 1992. She then pursued her MTech in Geotechnical Engineering from the National Institute of Technology, Warangal, where she graduated as a Gold Medallist.In 2000, she earned her PhD in Geotechnical Engineering from IIT Madras. After completing her doctoral studies, Dr Latha joined the IISc in 2003 as a faculty member, following her tenure as an Assistant Professor at IIT Guwahati.Currently, she serves as a professor in the Department of Civil Engineering and is also the Chair of the Centre for Sustainable Technologies at IISc.AWARDS AND HONOURSDr Latha has received numerous prestigious awards and honours throughout her career. In 2021, she was recognised as the Best Woman Researcher in Geotechnical Engineering by the Indian Geotechnical Society.She also received the Prof SK Chatterjee Outstanding Researcher Award from IISc and the Woman Achiever Award from the Karnataka Book of Records.She is a recipient of the SERB POWER Fellowship and was listed amongst the Top 75 Women in STEAM of India in 2022.Additionally, she served as the Editor-in-Chief of the Indian Geotechnical Journal from 2016 to 2022 and has been an Associate Editor for several international journals.ROLE IN DEVELOPING WORLD'S HIGHEST BRIDGEadvertisementDr Latha's role in this project was not easy. She had to face extreme weather, challenging terrain, and the harsh conditions of the mountainous region. The bridge is being constructed at a height higher than the Eiffel Tower and requires precision engineering to ensure its safety and durability.Her passion for infrastructure development and her ability to thrive in such a tough environment has earned her great respect amongst her peers. Despite the hurdles, she has successfully managed the bridge's construction with dedication and skill.As a woman in a traditionally male-dominated field, Dr Madhavi Latha has faced her share of challenges but continues to break barriers. Her leadership and hard work have inspired many, especially women, to pursue careers in engineering.
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