Who is Madhavi Latha, the brain behind world’s tallest railway bridge in J&K

Jammu and Kashmir: The breathtaking views of the Chenab Rail Bridge — the world’s tallest railway bridge — have captured the world’s imagination. But behind this engineering marvel lies an untold story of determination, expertise, and a woman who helped make it possible.

Meet Prof. Gali Madhavi Latha, the geotechnical expert whose work was instrumental in the creation of the Chenab Rail Bridge in Kashmir.

Spanning 17 years of dedication, the project is not just an engineering feat — it’s a story of perseverance and vision.

The Chenab Bridge in Jammu and Kashmir was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 6.

Towering at 359 meters, even taller than the Eiffel Tower, the Chenab Bridge connects Kashmir to the rest of India by rail. It's more than infrastructure — it's a symbol of resilience, national pride, and cutting-edge engineering.

In 2005, Northern Railway brought Prof. Latha on board as the lead geotechnical consultant. Her challenge? Conquer the Himalayas, stabilize fractured, unstable slopes, and make the near-impossible a reality.

Who is Latha?

Hailing from a village in Andhra Pradesh, she completed her B.Tech in Civil Engineering from JNTU in 1992, followed by an M.Tech in Geotechnical Engineering from NIT Warangal, where she topped her class with a gold medal. She then earned her PhD from IIT Madras in 2000. Today, she serves as a professor at IISc Bengaluru.

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.

With a PhD in Geotechnical Engineering from IIT Madras and extensive research experience from IISc Bangalore, Prof. Latha was no stranger to complex terrain and rock mechanics. But the Chenab site would push her limits like never before. She navigated treacherous paths, crossed rivers by boat, and analyzed fractured rock in a high-seismic zone. Risk wasn’t optional — it was part of the job.

Her approach was revolutionary: “design-as-you-go.” The unpredictable geology of the region made traditional engineering methods inadequate. Prof. Latha adapted in real-time, pioneering new techniques on-site. She led operations involving cement grouting and rock anchoring — inserting more than 66 km of anchors to strengthen the mountain slopes.

Stayed on-site at nights:

There were nights when she stayed on-site continuously, providing critical guidance as excavation teams dealt with highly unstable terrain. One wrong move could have led to catastrophe — precision was everything.

The bridge was designed to endure extreme conditions: wind speeds of 260 km/h and earthquakes exceeding magnitude 8. Prof. Latha’s geotechnical strategies made this ambitious goal achievable — and safe.

Her role included advising on the placement of rock anchors to stabilise slopes and ensuring structural safety throughout construction.

A proud mother :

After 17 years of on-ground effort, she visited the completed bridge in 2022, not as a consultant, but as a mother, proudly showing her children the result of her life’s work. In 2021, she was honoured as the Best Woman Geotechnical Researcher by the Indian Geotechnical Society. The Chenab Bridge is her magnum opus — but far from her only accomplishment.

Building Legacies:

She served as Editor-in-Chief of the Indian Geotechnical Journal from 2016 to 2022 and continues to inspire the next generation of engineers at IISc. For Prof. Latha, it’s not just about building structures — it’s about building legacies.

On June 4, 2025, the Chenab Bridge welcomed its first Vande Bharat Express during a test run — a dream come true for engineers, railways, and a proud nation. Behind that milestone was Prof. Latha’s quiet blueprint and unwavering determination.

Today, the Chenab Bridge stands as a global icon of Indian engineering. And at its core is the untold story of a woman who quite literally moved mountains — Prof. Gali Madhavi Latha. A salute to her spirit.

Appreciations pour in:

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.”

In a post on X, Andhra Pradesh CM Nara Chandrababu Naidu 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 Prime Minister Narendra Modi 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. 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.