Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday inaugurated the Chenab Rail Bridge, the world’s highest railway arch bridge, in Jammu and Kashmir.
Situated at a height of 359 metres above the Chenab River, the 1,315-metre-long steel arch bridge is built to withstand high seismic and wind loads. It will reduce travel time between Jammu and Srinagar by two to three hours.
The bridge has been built at a cost of Rs 1,486 crore. The prime minister then walked on the bridge holding the tricolour.
During his visit to Jammu and Kashmir, PM Modi also launched a slew of key infrastructure projects worth Rs 46,000 crore.
The architectural marvel is a key part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project and now seamlessly connects the Kashmir Valley to the rest of India via rail.
After the inauguration of the Chenab bridge, the Prime Minister also inaugurated India’s first cable-stayed rail bridge over the river Anji.
The bridge forms a crucial link in the 111-km stretch from Katra to Banihal, and its construction was approved in 2002, but the work started only in 2017.
Before the construction, 26 km of approach roads and a 400-metre-long tunnel were built to reach the site, railway officials said.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah were present on the occasion.
In October 2016, the railway decided to build a cable-stayed bridge at Anji Khad after the plan to build an arch bridge similar to the Chenab bridge was abandoned due to the vulnerability of the structure, primarily due to concerns over the geological stability of the region.
The Anji Bridge rises 331 metres above the riverbed and spans 725 metres in length. It is supported by 96 high-tensile cables and features a striking inverted Y-shaped pylon that soars 193 metres from its base.
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As part of his J&K visit, PM Modi also flagged off Vande Bharat Express trains between Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra and Srinagar, improving connectivity for residents, tourists, and pilgrims.
PM Modi will also lay the foundation stone for the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence in Katra. The ₹350 crore facility will be the first medical college in Reasi district, aimed at strengthening medical infrastructure and services in the region.
