Katra, June 7, 2025 – Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with the engineers and workers behind the iconic Chenab Rail Bridge at Kanthan Chenab Halt on June 6, 2025, during the landmark inauguration of the world’s highest railway arch bridge in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi district. The warm interaction celebrated the grit and dedication of the team that brought this engineering feat to life, a pivotal part of the ₹43,780-crore Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project connecting Kashmir to India’s rail network.
The 1,315-meter-long Chenab Rail Bridge, towering 359 meters above the Chenab River, stands taller than the Eiffel Tower and was built to endure earthquakes and winds up to 266 km/h. Modi, who also flagged off the Katra-Srinagar Vande Bharat Express trains, praised the workers for their resilience in navigating the Pir Panjal ranges’ treacherous terrain. “Meeting the team behind this bridge was inspiring—their hard work has connected hearts and regions,” he shared, as echoed in X posts highlighting the laborers’ stories of overcoming extreme weather and logistical challenges.
The Prime Minister toured the bridge, waving the national flag, and explored a photo exhibition detailing the project’s complexities, guided by Railway Board CEO Satish Kumar. He lauded innovative techniques like using mules for access roads and deploying massive cable cranes for grouting on unstable slopes. The bridge’s construction, supported by a pioneering on-site NABL-accredited lab, set new standards for Indian Railways’ quality control.
Joined by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, and Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Modi underscored the bridge’s role in revolutionising travel, tourism, and trade. The Chenab Rail Bridge, alongside the Anji Khad Bridge—India’s first cable-stayed railway bridge—will ease pilgrimages to Vaishno Devi and boost Kashmir’s economy by streamlining transport of local goods like apples and handicrafts.
The Chenab Rail Bridge, a 42-year dream realised, stands as a testament to India’s engineering prowess and unity. Modi’s engagement with the team at Kanthan Chenab Halt celebrated not just infrastructure but the collective resolve shaping a connected future for Jammu and Kashmir.
