A 40-year-old entity with roots in Delhi and a sprawling factory in Meerut, JCL Infra successfully launched a bowstring girder weighing around 540 Metric Tonne at the Manoharabad-Gajwel section of the Hyderabad Division of the South Central Railway, in Telangana. The launch of the girder, a vital component of bridge construction, was carried out with utmost precision and quality. The project took around seven months to execute. A stalwart in the infrastructure and steel fabrication industry, the company has carved a niche in executing infrastructure projects with specialisation in railway track assemblies and sleeper coaches, among others.“The cost of the project is around Rs 110 million,” shares Sandeep Gupta, Head-Operations, JCL  Infra. “JCL Infra used the innovative and state-of-the art ‘end pulling and slide slewing method’ for this project. The project took around seven months to complete. The girder has a 100-year lifespan and will remain strong under extreme conditions. Its maintenance is far easier by way of timely welding. This girder project is important because there are many potholes below the pier cap and a lot of complexities involved which have been due-diligently adhered.Commenting on the challenges involved, Anshuman Sharma, Chief Principal Consultant, JCL Infra and ex-IRSE Officer, adds, “It was difficult to assemble at a height of 10 m. Further, there is an active railway line at the ground level with the constant movement of trains. After the launch of this bowstring girder, the proposed road overbridge will be widened with a double lane to ease the state highway traffic. Such challenging work adds a feather to the company’s cap and gives us the encouragement to take up new challenges for future projects.”As for future plans, Vishwa Vasu Gupta, Executive Director and co-promoter, JCL  Infra, says, “The company proactively participates in all active tendering processes of all the railway zones and divisions across India. JCL Infra also plans to expand its business network to neighbouring countries such as Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Burma, etc, with tentative JV partnerships through their government railway contracts.”-   R SRINIVASAN