IISc Engineer Responds to Viral Fame After Chenab Bridge Inauguration: "Please Don’t Make Me Unnecessarily Famous"

The recently inaugurated Chenab Bridge in Jammu & Kashmir — now known as the world’s tallest railway arch — has captured national attention. Following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official inauguration, congratulations began pouring in for the engineering minds behind this monumental project.

Among those who found themselves in the spotlight was Dr. G Madhavi Latha from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru. A key contributor to the bridge’s design and construction, she quickly became the focus of praise across social media, with many hailing her as the “woman behind the mission.” But now, Dr. Latha is urging people to shift the spotlight.

In a humble and heartfelt post on LinkedIn, she congratulated the nation on the achievement and credited the success to Indian Railways and AFCONS, the infrastructure company involved in the project.

“The bridge is a civil engineering marvel,” she wrote. “All glory of the planning, design and construction goes to Indian Railways and AFCONS.”

She went on to clarify that while she is proud of her contribution, the project was a team effort involving thousands of professionals.

“There are millions of unsung heroes to whom I salute today,” she wrote, briefly outlining her role. “All other media statements like ‘woman behind the mission’, ‘made impossible possible’, and ‘done miracles to build the bridge’ are baseless.”

While she thanked the many people who had sent her kind messages, she asked that the attention be shared more widely.

“I’m extremely happy about this,” she wrote. “Thanks to all Indians who have poured congratulatory messages to me. But please remember, I am one of the thousands who deserve appreciation for the Chenab Bridge. Please don’t make me unnecessarily famous. All glory belongs to Indian Railways.”

Her modesty and sincerity struck a chord with many online. One LinkedIn user wrote, “Congratulations, ma’am... and salute to your big heart. Congratulations to the entire team behind this marvel.” Another added, “Your humility and contribution to such a historic engineering feat are truly inspiring. Salute to all the minds and hands behind the Chenab Bridge!”

Others praised her willingness to share the credit. “It takes a big heart to step out of the limelight and lift others up. That kind of humility is rare.”

The Chenab Bridge — which spans the Chenab River and connects Kashmir to the rest of India by rail — stands not just as an engineering wonder, but also as a testament to quiet leadership, teamwork, and shared achievement.