PM Modi to Inaugurate World’s Highest Railway Bridge Over Chenab, Connecting Kashmir to India’s Rail Network
In a historic milestone for India’s infrastructure and connectivity, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate the Chenab Railway Bridge today — the world’s highest railway arch bridge — alongside India’s first cable-stayed railway bridge at Anji. These landmark projects complete a decades-long mission to link the Kashmir Valley with the rest of the country via rail, marking a momentous achievement in engineering, national integration, and regional development.
Soaring 359 metres above the Chenab River in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi district, the Chenab Bridge surpasses the height of the Eiffel Tower and stands as a testament to Indian engineering prowess. The 1,315-metre-long steel and concrete structure forms a key component of the ambitious Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project — one of India’s most challenging and strategically important railway undertakings.
In addition to unveiling the Chenab Bridge, PM Modi will inaugurate the Anji Khad Bridge, India’s first cable-stayed railway bridge, located between Katra and Reasi. Together, these bridges represent the final physical link completing the Kashmir Valley’s integration into India’s railway grid.
This is Prime Minister Modi’s first visit to Jammu and Kashmir since the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, underlining the significance of the occasion for both infrastructure and security narratives in the region.
Designed to endure the most extreme conditions, the Chenab Rail Bridge has been built using blast-resistant steel, can tolerate seismic activity, and is capable of withstanding wind speeds of up to 266 km/h. Located in a high seismic risk zone, the bridge includes several first-of-its-kind safety and security features for Indian Railways.
The Chenab and Anji bridges are part of the 272-km USBRL project, constructed at a cost of approximately ₹43,780 crore. The project includes 36 tunnels spanning 119 km and 943 bridges, representing a massive logistical, engineering, and environmental effort over two decades. With this, the region will benefit from all-weather rail connectivity, dramatically improving access, mobility, and emergency response capacities in the region.
As part of the launch, two Vande Bharat Express trains will also be flagged off by the Prime Minister, linking Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra and Srinagar. These semi-high-speed trains will not only ease travel for pilgrims and tourists but also bolster economic and social integration with the rest of India.
The journey of connecting Kashmir by rail began in the 1970s, with the concept proposed during the tenure of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The idea was formally sanctioned in 1994, under P V Narasimha Rao, and gained momentum in 2002, when the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led government approved key funding and land acquisition.
Today’s inauguration is the culmination of over three decades of planning and two decades of execution, reflecting the Centre’s focus on strengthening connectivity and development in Jammu and Kashmir. With the unveiling of these two engineering marvels, India not only celebrates a monumental infrastructure achievement but also opens a new chapter in the story of national unity and progress.
IT.
