World’s highest railway bridge over Chenab inaugurated
PM interacts with Engineers, Workers at Chenab Bridge
Katra, Jun 06: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday inaugurated the world’s highest railway bridge over the Chenab river, which was completed at a cost of Rs 1,486 crore in more than eight years.
After the Chenab bridge, Modi also inaugurated India’s first cable-stayed rail bridge over the river Anji. The prime minister then walked on the Chenab rail bridge holding the tricolour.
Before the inauguration, Modi travelled in a rail engine coach to reach the spot.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah were present on the occasion.
Prime Minister Modi walked to the viewpoint near the world’s tallest railway bridge over the Chenab river and was briefed about the project which is key in connecting Kashmir to the rest of the country by train.
Accompanied by union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Jitendra Singh and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, the prime minister visited a railway museum set up near the iconic bridge.
The prime minister walked to the viewpoint and was briefed about the engineering marvel, situated at a height of 359 metres above the river, 35 metres higher than the iconic Eiffel Tower in Paris.
PM Modi will inaugurate both the Chenab bridge and the museum before inaugurating nearby India’s first cable-stayed Anji Bridge and flagging off two Vande Bharat trains, marking the completion of the Udhampur-Baramulla-Srinagar Railway link.
The prime minister was also seen interacting with the engineers and workers at the museum, which is part of the world’s highest steel arch rail bridge over Chenab in Reasi district.
Earlier, after his arrival at the Air Force station in Udhampur, the prime minister left in a chopper to inaugurate the bridge over Chenab.
A multi-tier security setup has been put in place for the prime minister’s visit, his first to the Union Territory post Operation Sindoor launched by the Indian Armed Forces across the border to hit terrorist infrastructure during the intervening night on May 6 and 7 in retaliation to the Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 dead on April 22.
After inaugurating the Chenab brige, Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to inaugurate India’s first cable-stayed Anji bridge and flag off Vande Bharat trains to mark the completion of the 272-km Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla railway link (USBRL) that will provide direct train connectivity between Kashmir and rest of the country.
Modi will also lay the foundation stone, inaugurate and dedicate to the nation multiple development projects worth over Rs 46,000 crore at Katra, the base camp for pilgrims visiting the Vaishno Devi shrine atop Trikuta hills in Reasi district.
The USBRL project, constructed at a cost of around Rs 43,780 crore includes 36 tunnels (spanning 119 km) and 943 bridges.
The project establishes all-weather, seamless rail connectivity between Kashmir and the rest of the country aiming to transform regional mobility and drive socio-economic integration.
Prime Minister Modi will also flag off two Vande Bharat Express trains from Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra to Srinagar and back. They will offer a swift, comfortable, and reliable travel option for residents, tourists, pilgrims among others.
In a major boost to last mile connectivity especially in border areas, Modi will lay the foundation stone and inaugurate various road projects.
He will lay the foundation stone of the road widening project from Rafiabad to Kupwara on National Highway-701 and the construction of Shopian bypass road on NH-444 worth over Rs 1,952 crore.
He will also inaugurate two flyover projects at Sangrama Junction on National Highway-1 in Srinagar and at Bemina Junction on National Highway-44. These projects will ease traffic congestion and enhance traffic flow for the commuters.
Prime Minister Modi will also lay the foundation stone of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence in Katra worth over Rs 350 crore. It will be the first medical college in Reasi district contributing substantially to the healthcare infrastructure in the region.
Out of the total 272 km USBRL project, 209 km was commissioned in phases with the first phase of the 118 km Qazigund-Baramulla section commissioned in October 2009 followed by 18 km Banihal-Qazigund in June 2013, 25 km Udhampur-Katra in July 2014 and 48.1 km long Banihal-Sangaldan stretch in February, last year.
The work on the 46-km Sangaldan-Reasi section was also completed in June last year, leaving a total 17 km stretch between Reasi and Katra and this section was finally completed in December 2024.
