PM Modi Inaugurates Chenab Railway Bridge, World’s Highest Rail Arch, Transforming Connectivity in Kashmir

Reasi (Jammu & Kashmir), June 6, 2025: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday inaugurated the Chenab Railway Bridge, the world’s highest railway arch bridge, marking a historic leap in India’s infrastructure development and regional integration. Towering 359 meters above the Chenab River and extending 1,315 meters across the gorge, the bridge surpasses the height of the Eiffel Tower and is a centerpiece of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project.

The USBRL project, valued at approximately ₹44,000 crore, is a strategic initiative aimed at providing all-weather rail connectivity to the Kashmir Valley. The project concludes a 30-year wait for seamless rail access in the region and is expected to bring transformative economic, social, and strategic benefits.

During the inauguration ceremony, Prime Minister Modi also unveiled the Anji Khad Bridge, India’s first cable-stayed railway bridge, further reinforcing the engineering ambition of the USBRL. Both bridges are symbols of cutting-edge construction in high-altitude, geologically complex environments.

In a parallel development, PM Modi flagged off two Vande Bharat Express trains that will operate between Katra and Srinagar, slashing travel time to under three hours. The move is expected to significantly enhance mobility, boost tourism, and foster economic development in Jammu and Kashmir.

Designed to endure extreme seismic activity and wind speeds, the Chenab Bridge stands as a global benchmark for resilience and innovation in civil engineering. The successful completion of this mega-structure underscores India’s growing capability in executing complex infrastructure projects in hostile terrains.

Officials stated that with the opening of this vital railway link, the Kashmir Valley is now fully integrated into the national rail network, fulfilling a long-pending strategic objective and enhancing the region’s connectivity with the rest of India.