Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru
Bengaluru, June 7: As the Chenab Rail Bridge — the world’s tallest railway bridge — was inaugurated with much national pride by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, behind its towering steel structure stands a story of resilience, intellect, and dedication. One of the key technical contributors to this engineering marvel is Professor Madhavi Latha, a native of Yedugundlapadu, a humble village in Andhra Pradesh.
Born into a farming family and educated entirely in a government school, Madhavi Latha’s journey from rural Andhra to the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) is nothing short of inspirational.
The youngest of four siblings, she initially dreamt of donning a white coat as a doctor. But when that path didn’t materialise, her parents encouraged her to pursue engineering — a decision that would eventually see her scale literal and metaphorical heights.
After earning her BTech from JNTU in Andhra Pradesh, she went on to complete her MTech from NIT Warangal, a PhD from IIT Madras, and a post-doctorate in rock engineering at IISc Bengaluru. Since 2003, she has been a faculty member at IISc and currently chairs the Centre for Sustainable Technologies.
Madhavi Latha’s involvement in the Chenab rail bridge dates back to 2005, a collaboration that spanned nearly two decades until its completion in 2022. Initially working under renowned professor T G Seetharam, she later served independently as a geotechnical consultant to Northern Railways through Afcons Limited.
Her primary responsibility — ensuring slope stability and designing geotechnical safety systems for the bridge foundations — was a cornerstone of the project. Given the bridge’s location in the tectonically active and geologically complex Lower Himalayan region, her expertise in rock mechanics was vital. The terrain posed significant challenges: steep and fractured slopes, loose soil, high seismic risk, and the fiercely erosive Chenab River flowing beneath.
Designing the 359-meter-high steel arch required precision geotechnical assessment — from analysing slope conditions and anchoring rock bolts, to safeguarding against landslides and ensuring the foundation could withstand both natural forces and the test of time.
Professor Madhavi Latha’s crucial contribution underscores not only the importance of women in engineering but also highlights how grassroots talent can rise to national significance with determination, education, and opportunity.
Her role remains a testament to India’s growing pool of women technocrats and a beacon of inspiration for young girls in rural India dreaming of reaching the sky.