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NDTV
10-06-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Chenab Bridge Project Engineer's New Post On "Unnecessary" Fame
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Chenab Bridge in Jammu and Kashmir, the world's highest railway arch bridge, last Friday. As the nation celebrated the feat, Professor G Madhavi Latha, a long-time contributor, credited thousands of "unsung heroes" and urged people not to make her "unnecessarily famous." "I salute the millions of unsung heroes," said Dr Latha, who was a geotechnical consultant to Afcons, the engineering firm that constructed the bridge. "My role was to help in developing slope stabilisation schemes and design of foundations on slope," she added in a message on LinkedIn shared after the inauguration. Dr Latha, who has been involved with the Chenab Bridge for 17 years, spoke about the headlines that described her as the "woman behind the mission" and one who performed "miracles to build the bridge". She called them "baseless." "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, the professor from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, thanked those who sent congratulatory messages. "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," she said. "All glory belongs to Indian Railways," she said and appreciated the Indian Railways and Afcons for their execution of what many called an impossible task. A leading geotechnical engineer, Dr G Madhavi Latha is a Higher Administrative Grade (HAG) professor at the IISc, Bengaluru. Construction of the Chenab Bridge, part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Link (USBRL), faced significant challenges due to difficult terrain, seismic risks, and unpredictable geology. Dr Latha and her team helped the project navigate these complexities with a "design-as-you-go" approach. This meant adapting to real-time findings like fractured rocks and hidden cavities, factors that earlier surveys had missed. Dr Latha provided guidance on rock anchor design and slope stability, elements crucial for a structure of this scale. She also detailed her 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 women's issue. Standing 359 metres above the Chenab River, the bridge rises 35 metres taller than the Eiffel Tower. Indian Railways built it at a cost of Rs 1,486 crore, making it the tallest railway arch bridge in the world. The government calls it the biggest civil-engineering challenge Indian Railways has ever tackled. Engineers expect the bridge to significantly boost connectivity in the Kashmir Valley, calling it a once-in-a-lifetime project.
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First Post
07-06-2025
- Science
- First Post
Who is Madhavi Latha, IISc professor who spent 17 years helping build J&K's Chenab Bridge?
The Chenab Bridge, the world's highest railway arch bridge, has been inaugurated. G Madhavi Latha, a professor at Bengaluru's Indian Institute of Science, worked on the project as a geotechnical consultant for 17 years. The construction was beset with challenges, but she and her team adopted 'design-as-you-go' approach for the engineering marvel read more The Chenab Bridge in Jammu and Kashmir has been inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The world's highest railway arch bridge, unveiled on Friday (June 6), is an engineering marvel. It is a part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla rail link project (USBRL), which will provide all-weather rail connectivity between the Kashmir Valley and the rest of India. The Chenab Bridge stands high at 359 metres (1,178 feet) above the Chenab riverbed, 35 metres taller than the Paris' Eiffel Tower. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The construction of the bridge was a major challenge due to the region's harsh terrain. An expert in rock engineering gave her 17 years to help build the 1,315 metres long bridge. But who is she? We will take a look. Madhavi Latha's role in building Chenab Bridge G Madhavi Latha, a professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at Bengaluru's Indian Institute of Science (IISc), spent 17 years on the Chenab Bridge project as a geotechnical consultant. A specialist in rock engineering, she was roped in by the Northern Railways and the Chenab bridge project contractor Afcons to advise them on slope stabilisation and bridge foundation. This was to ensure the bridge could withstand very harsh natural conditions, including wind speeds of more than 220 kmph. With a lifespan of 120 years, the Chenab bridge can resist high-velocity winds with speeds up to 260 kmph, extreme temperatures, earthquakes, and hydrological impacts if water levels rise. The Chenab bridge's design and construction have been done by a joint venture comprising Afcons Infrastructure, South Korea-based Ultra Construction & Engineering Company, and VSL India. Speaking to Deccan Herald (DH), Latha said, 'IISc was the consultant for slope stabilisation and foundation, whereas foreign firms were involved in making the steel arch. Planning of the bridge started in 2005, and it was completed in 2022 when trial runs with full-speed trains were carried out.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD This unsupported steel arch has a length of about half a kilometre. It rests on the left and right abutments, along with eight piers, on the slopes. During the construction, Professor Latha's team adopted a 'design-as-you-go" approach, meaning they had to adapt in real-time depending on geological conditions such as fractured rocks, hidden cavities, and different rock properties, not evident in early surveys. Last month, the article, Design as You Go: The Case Study of Chenab Railway Bridge, published in the Women's Special issue of the Indian Geotechnical Journal by Dr Latha laid out the challenges that they faced while constructing the bridge over the past 17 years. 'The 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, considering the continuously evolving geological and geotechnical conditions,' she noted in the article. 'The design-as-you-go approach adopted in this project made the construction of the bridge possible despite the critical challenges encountered in every stage during the 17 years of its construction period,' the professor added. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Due to high rock discontinuities and steep slopes, a major challenge was to construct the Chenab bridge 's arch abutments and foundations for piers on the slopes. The solution found by Latha and other project engineers was to use the technique of cement grouting with pieces of rock and steel rods for reinforcement, reported DH. Who is Madhavi Latha? Professor Madhavi Latha completed her PhD in geotechnical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras. She was teaching at IIT Guwahati before she joined the IISc in 2004. Dr Latha, who was the first female faculty member at IISc at the time, had to fight to get a toilet for women. 'Back then, there were no exclusive toilets for women in the department. There were only men's toilets. I had to really fight to get a women's toilet in the geotechnical engineering building,' IISc says on its website, quoting the professor. Soon after PM Modi inaugurated the Chenab bridge, IISc took to X to laud her, 'We are proud of Prof Madhavi Latha & her team's contribution to the #ChenabBridge 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.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD BJP MP Tejasvi Surya also hailed Latha for her contributions to building the Chenab bridge. Congratulating the civil engineer, he wrote, 'Your role in this engineering marvel inspires young minds, especially women in STEM, to lead in nation-building.' Congratulations to Prof. Madhavi Latha of @iiscbangalore for your remarkable contribution to the #ChenabBridge — the world's highest railway arch bridge, inaugurated today by PM Shri @NarendraModi. Your role in this engineering marvel inspires young minds, especially women in… — Tejasvi Surya (@Tejasvi_Surya) June 6, 2025 Latha is currently the Chair of the Centre for Sustainable Technologies (CST). She has won laurels over the years. In 2021, Latha bagged the Best Woman Geotechnical Researcher award by the Indian Geotechnical Society. She also made it to the Top 75 Women in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) of India in 2022. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With inputs from agencies
Forbes
10-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
The World's Best Wheated Bourbon, According To The SF World Spirits Competition
The Wheated Bourbon Finalists from the 2025 SFWSC Five whiskeys are the Wheated Bourbon category finalists at the 2025 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. The SFWSC is the world's largest and most prestigious judging of American whiskey. Below are brief backgrounds and tasting notes on the finalists. The Top Shelf 2025 Awards Gala, a highly anticipated whiskey industry event, will announce the winner on November 9 at Hotel Nikko in San Francisco. Wheated reserve is part of Frank August's experimental "Case Study" series. Each batch explores different aging techniques and mash bill variations. Case Study 05 focuses on a small batch of wheated bourbon, using just five barrels. Distilled in Kentucky and bottled at cask strength, typically around 114–116 proof, it highlights wheat's softer, richer qualities in bourbon. On the nose, it offers pronounced aromas of caramelized brown sugar, old leather, baked apples, and a hint of cinnamon dust. The palate is luxuriously smooth yet complex, delivering layers of vanilla bean, maple candy, toasted almond, and clove-spiced toffee. The finish is long and silky, fading slowly with sweet oak and warm baking spice. This release showcases the creamy, rich side of wheated bourbon, with impressive complexity for a small batch offering. The SFWSC Judging Panel described the wheated bourbon as exhibiting aromas of cinnamon baked apples, old leather, vanilla, and caramel. The palate is smooth and creamy, featuring maple candies, nuts, caramel, vanilla, and spice notes of cinnamon and clove. The finish is long and creamy, with lingering notes of seasoned oak and wood spices.' This small-batch craft bourbon, produced in Chicago, Illinois, by Maplewood, uses a high-corn, wheat-forward mash bill and is bottled at around 90–95 proof. Despite being new to the whiskey industry, Maplewood's distillation program has gained strong respect for its quality. On the nose, this bourbon is aromatic and approachable, with aromas of caramel corn, vanilla wafer, light oak, and a subtle hint of cooked, honeyed grain. It's gentle yet flavorful on the palate, unfolding layers of sweet toffee, buttered popcorn, baked apples, and a touch of nutmeg. The wheat softens the mouthfeel considerably, giving it a creamy, rounded texture. The finish is clean and mid-length, with lingering sweet oak and baking spice notes. This bourbon is a comfortable, easy sipper, showcasing the smooth, approachable character that good wheated bourbon can deliver even from a relatively young bottling. The SFWSC Judging Panel described the whiskey as expressing 'aromas of stone fruit, cooked corn, caramel, vanilla, oak, and cooked cereal on the nose. The palate features buttered popcorn, apple pie/caramel apple, and wood spices. The finish is long, slightly sweet, with lingering baked apple and corn bread notes.' This bourbon is part of Heaven Hill's ambitious "Grain to Glass" series, highlighting complete transparency and small-batch craftsmanship — from seed selection through barrel aging. It has been a perennial winner in international spirit competitions. This expression focuses on traditional Kentucky mash bills, aged in classic #3 char new oak barrels, and bottled around 110–115 proof. It's rich with a classic Kentucky bourbon profile on the nose, featuring butterscotch, brown sugar, toasted oak, and dried cherry aromas. The palate is robust and weighty, showcasing molasses, baked peaches, vanilla cream flavors, and a firm backbone of caramelized oak. The wheat component offers a subtle sweetness, while the barrel strength proof delivers plenty of depth and spice. The finish is long and layered, dominated by oak wood spices, dark honey, and roasted hazelnut. This bottling is a classic, robust wheated bourbon, true to Heaven Hill's historic style. The SFWSC Judging Panel described the wheated bourbon as expressing 'aromas of creamy butterscotch, cherry syrup, dried peaches, and charred oak. The palate is rich and creamy, featuring molasses/brown sugar, dried fruit, caramel, vanilla, roasted nuts, and oak spices. The finish is long and slightly sweet, with lingering oak and spice notes.' Glass of wheated bourbon and wheat ears W.L. Weller Antique 107 is a cult favorite in the bourbon world. It's distilled at Buffalo Trace using their famed wheated mash bill, shared with Pappy Van Winkle. Although the expression carries a list price of $59, the average retail price in the US, according to Wine Searcher, is $194. Bottled at 107 proof, Antique 107 balances power and sweetness beautifully. The nose has candied pecans, cinnamon sticks, ripe cherries, and soft leather. It's bold yet velvety on the palate, bursting with flavors of dark caramel, red apple, vanilla frosting, and toasted almond, framed by gentle baking spice notes. The finish is vibrant, long, and lightly peppery, with lingering notes of sweet oak, cinnamon, and rich toffee. Weller Antique 107 remains one of the best examples of a high-proof wheated bourbon, with impressive character and drinkability. The SFWSC Judging Panel described the bourbon as expressing 'aromas of vanilla custard, peach chunks, and caramel. The palate features classic wheated bourbon notes of caramel, brown sugar, Rainier cherries, and seasoned oak. The finish is long and robust with lingering vanilla and dried fruit notes.' Weller's C.Y.P.B. is a special release from Buffalo Trace's "craft your ideal bourbon' online campaign. The result was a wheated bourbon, aged 8 years, bottled at 95 proof, matured on the upper floors of the warehouses. Now in high demand by collectors, the bottle sells for an average price of $592 according to Wine Searcher. On the nose, C.Y.P.B. is elegant and fresh, with aromas of white chocolate, honeycomb, seasoned oak, fresh peaches, and a trace of honeysuckle. The palate is delicate but flavorful, highlighting notes of vanilla custard, caramelized pear, lightly toasted coconut, and gentle cinnamon spice. The wheat has a luscious mouthfeel complemented by a subtle sweetness. The finish is medium-long, slightly sweet, with lingering sweet vanilla, toasted almond notes, and a faint hint of herbal freshness. Weller C.Y.P.B. is a smoother, more refined cousin to Antique 107, prized for its balance, grace, and crowd-pleasing flavor. The SFWSC Judging Panel described the wheated bourbon as showcasing floral aromas complemented by vanilla, caramel, white chocolate, honey, and seasoned oak notes. The palate is flavorful, featuring a layered complexity of vanilla cream, poached orchard fruit, butterscotch, coconut, and wood spices. The finish is long and sweet, with lingering vanilla and nutty notes. These five wheated bourbons from the 2025 SFWSC showcase the benefit of a high wheat mash bill. The results are exceptionally smooth, easy-drinking bourbons that expand bourbon's aroma and flavor profile. These five expressions are outstanding. They are among the world's best wheat-based bourbons.
