Katra, June 7, 2025 – Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the world’s highest railway arch bridge, the Chenab Bridge, on June 6, 2025, in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi district, marking a defining moment for the state’s development and India’s engineering legacy. In a historic gesture, Modi walked the bridge’s deck, waving the national flag, symbolizing the culmination of a 42-year journey to connect Kashmir to the nation’s rail network through the ₹43,780-crore Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project.
The 1,315-meter-long Chenab Bridge, soaring 359 meters above the Chenab River—taller than the Eiffel Tower—is a marvel of engineering, designed to withstand earthquakes and winds up to 266 km/h. Located in the rugged Pir Panjal ranges, it forms a critical link for the Katra-Srinagar Vande Bharat Express, slashing travel time to three hours from 6-7 hours by road. The bridge, part of a network of 36 tunnels and 943 bridges, ensures all-weather connectivity, boosting pilgrimage to Vaishno Devi, tourism, and trade in Kashmiri goods like handicrafts and apples.
Modi, joined by Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, and Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, also toured a photo exhibition at Kanthan Chenab Halt, detailing the bridge’s construction challenges, including the use of mules for access roads and massive cable cranes for grouting brittle slopes. The project’s on-site NABL-accredited lab, a first for Indian Railways, ensured rigorous quality standards. Social media on X erupted with pride, with users calling the inauguration a “game-changer for #ViksitJandK” and Modi’s walk a “symbol of India’s unstoppable progress.”
The Prime Minister’s address highlighted the bridge as a cornerstone of “Viksit Bharat,” emphasising its role in uniting Kashmir with Kanyakumari. The event, held under tight security following recent regional concerns, also saw Modi flag off two Vande Bharat Express trains, reinforcing the government’s commitment to modern infrastructure. The Chenab Bridge, alongside the Anji Khad Bridge—India’s first cable-stayed railway bridge—stands as a testament to India’s engineering prowess and vision for a connected, prosperous Jammu and Kashmir.
