The world’s tallest railway arch bridge across the Chenab River and India’s first cable-stayed rail bridge, the Anji Khad Bridge, were both officially opened by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Jammu and Kashmir. Both are essential parts of the strategic project known as the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL), which aims to connect the Kashmir Valley with the rest of India. The Chenab Railway Bridge is now the highest railway bridge in the world, standing 359 meters above the riverbed and even higher than the Eiffel Tower.
The bridge, which connects the Katra-Sangaldan stretch, was constructed in the mountainous Reasi area, filling a crucial rail connection gap between New Delhi and the Kashmir Valley. Since the Valley is now officially a part of the national railway grid, the inauguration is a historic occasion. A triumph of engineering in a seismically active area, the bridge had years of delays because of its difficult topography and intricate technical design. Despite these difficulties, it was finished with an emphasis on durability and safety, showing India’s expanding infrastructure capabilities.
Prime Minister Modi inaugurated the Chenab and Anji bridges in Jammu and Kashmir, marking the beginning of the 272-km USBRL project. The project, costing ₹43,780 crore, includes 36 tunnels and 943 bridges, aiming to boost tourism, trade, and mobility. The bridges are part of a broader vision for economic transformation and national integration.
