The long-awaited Chenab rail bridge will connect Kashmir with the rest of India
The Kashmir valley got connected to the rest of India with the inauguration of the much-awaited and world’s highest railway arch bridge over Chenab river by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his one-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir on Friday. The architectural marvel, located 359 metres above the river, Chenab Rail Bridge is the world’s highest railway arch bridge. It is a 1,315-metre long steel arch bridge designed to withstand earthquakes and wind conditions. One of the major impacts of this bridge will be to enhance connectivity between Jammu and Srinagar. The Vande Bharat train running on the bridge will take around three hours to travel between Katra and Srinagar, reducing the existing travel time by two to three hours. During his visit, the Prime Minister also inaugurated India’s first cable-stayed rail bridge, Anji Bridge, which will serve the country in challenging terrains. This was the Prime Minister’s first visit to Jammu and Kashmir after the Pahalgam terror attack.
Prime Minister Modi flagged off Vande Bharat trains—from Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra to Srinagar and back—and laid the foundation stone, inaugurated and dedicated to the nation several development projects worth over Rs 46,000 crore from Katra. The Prime Minister also dedicated to the nation the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project. The 272 km long USBRL project, which includes 36 tunnels (spanning 119 km) and 943 bridges, was constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 43,780 crore. Prime Minister Modi said today that railway connectivity has become a reality, underlining that generations in Jammu and Kashmir had long dreamt of it. Referring to a recent statement by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, the Prime Minister said Abdullah had been waiting for the project to be completed even when he was a student in Class VII or VIII. Prime Minister Modi emphasised that the fulfilment of this long-awaited aspiration is a historic moment for millions of people of Jammu and Kashmir, paving the way for better connectivity and progress.
Prime Minister Modi emphasised that the challenges faced in the project such as difficult terrain, extreme weather conditions and falling rocks in the mountains, make the project extremely difficult and challenging. However, he said that his Government has always chosen to face challenges and overcome them with determination. The Prime Minister said that the several all-weather infrastructure projects underway in Jammu and Kashmir exemplify this commitment. He described the recently opened Sonamarg Tunnel and his experience of travelling on the Chenab Bridge and Anji Bridge as remarkable milestones.
Prime Minister Modi lauded the engineering brilliance and unwavering dedication of India’s engineers and workers and said that the Chenab Bridge, the world’s tallest railway arch bridge, is a testimony to India’s ambition. He said that while people travel to Paris to see the Eiffel Tower, the Chenab Bridge surpasses it in height, making it not just a significant infrastructural achievement but also an emerging tourist attraction. He stressed that these structures are not just steel and concrete but living symbols of India’s might, standing high in the rugged mountains of Pir Panjal. Emphasizing that both the Chenab Bridge and the Anji Bridge will act as catalysts for prosperity in Jammu and Kashmir, the Prime Minister said, “These landmark projects will not only boost tourism but will also benefit various sectors of the economy, creating new opportunities for businesses and industries.”
