Modi Inaugurates World's Highest Railway Bridge in Jammu and Kashmir

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Chenab Railway Bridge, the world’s highest railway bridge.

Jammu•Jun 06, 2025 / 02:29 pm•

Patrika Desk

PM Modi inaugurates Chenab rail bridge (Photo – ANI)

Today marks a historic day for Jammu and Kashmir, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the world’s highest railway bridge, the Chenab Rail Bridge. This bridge is situated over the Chenab River in the Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir and forms part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project. This mega-project has a total cost of approximately ₹46,000 crore, encompassing the Chenab Bridge, Anji Bridge, and Vande Bharat train services.

An Engineering Marvel

This 1.3-kilometre-long railway bridge stands 359 metres above the Chenab River bed, 35 metres taller than the Eiffel Tower in Paris and approximately five times the height of the Qutub Minar in Delhi. Its construction cost is reported to be around ₹1,486 crore. The bridge is capable of withstanding strong winds of 266 km/h and earthquakes of up to 8 on the Richter scale. Built with a blast-proof design and 30,000 tonnes of steel, this bridge is expected to last for 125 years.

Connecting Kashmir to the Nation

The Chenab Bridge will connect the Kashmir Valley to the rest of the country throughout the year, overcoming the challenges previously posed by snowfall and landslides during winter. The journey from Katra to Srinagar will be reduced to just 3 hours via Vande Bharat Express, saving 2-3 hours of travel time. This improved connectivity will boost tourism, trade, and economic development.

5. The Chenab Bridge – world’s highest railway arch bridge.
– Length: 1.3 Km
– Height: 359 m (35 m higher than Eiffel Tower)
– Steel welding: More than 600 Km, that is more than the length of Jammu to Delhi Railway track. pic.twitter.com/fjlKCIPGjO
— Ashwini Vaishnaw (@AshwiniVaishnaw) June 5, 2025

PM Modi Inaugurates the Bridge

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the world’s highest railway arch bridge over the Chenab River on Friday, 6 June. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, and Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw were also present at the inauguration.

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इस दौरान जम्मू-कश्मीर के मुख्यमंत्री उमर अब्दुल्ला, उपराज्यपाल मनोज सिन्हा और रेलवे मंत्री अश्विणी वैष्णव भी मौजूद रहे।#kashmirontrack
(सोर्स: DD… pic.twitter.com/QwNpl6Lyqm
— ANI_HindiNews (@AHindinews) June 6, 2025

Security and Strategic Importance

The Chenab Bridge is not only an engineering marvel but also holds significant strategic importance. It will serve as a strong link in connecting Kashmir to the rest of the country. Following recent terrorist attacks, security in the region has been significantly heightened. Drones, CCTV cameras, and security forces have been deployed around the railway line and the bridge.

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