Prime Minister Narendra Modi Inaugurates World's Highest Railway Arch Bridge Over Chenab River

 REASI, JAMMU & KASHMIR | June 6, 2025: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on his first visit to Jammu and Kashmir following the Pahalgam terror attack, today inaugurated the iconic Chenab Rail Bridge in Reasi district—heralded as the world's highest railway arch bridge. The Prime Minister ceremonially waved the national flag, the Tiranga, at the site, marking a momentous occasion in India's infrastructural and strategic advancement.

This landmark visit underscored a high-impact agenda, including the launch of multiple mega infrastructure and development projects across the Union Territory, collectively valued at over Rs 46,000 crore.

Security was elevated to the highest levels with the deployment of the Special Protection Group (SPG), army units, Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), and J&K Police. A massive public rally in Katra—home to the revered Mata Vaishno Devi temple—served as the centerpiece of the day’s events.

Architectural Marvel and Strategic Asset

Standing at a deck height of 359 meters above the riverbed and stretching 1,315 meters across the gorge, the Chenab Bridge is a masterpiece of modern engineering. Built to endure seismic activity, high-velocity winds, and extreme temperatures, the bridge is expected to last 120 years. It has been designed to support train speeds of up to 100 km/h and can withstand earthquakes up to magnitude 8 and blasts equivalent to 40 tonnes of TNT.

Constructed at a cost of Rs 14.86 billion by Afcons Infrastructure in collaboration with VSL India and South Korea’s Ultra Construction, the bridge has 17 spans, including a 467-meter-long main span. The steel arch alone weighs over 10,600 tonnes and is supported by towering cable pylons.

Railway Connectivity Boost with USBRL and Vande Bharat Launch

Prime Minister Modi also flagged off two Vande Bharat Express trains that will now operate between Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra and Srinagar. This new service will dramatically reduce the travel time between the two locations to just three hours.

In addition, the Prime Minister formally dedicated the 272-kilometer-long Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) to the nation. This all-weather rail corridor—decades in the making—will serve as a critical economic and strategic lifeline for the Kashmir Valley.

The rail link features not just the Chenab Bridge but also India’s first cable-stayed railway bridge over the Anji River, further showcasing India’s leap in high-altitude and high-tech rail infrastructure.

Chenab River: The Lifeline of the Region

Originating in the western Himalayas of Himachal Pradesh, the Chenab River is formed by the confluence of the Chandra and Bhaga streams. Flowing through the rugged terrains of Jammu and Kashmir before entering Pakistan’s Punjab province, the Chenab spans 974 kilometers and plays a vital role in irrigation and agriculture across the subcontinent.

Foundation for the Future

Alongside the infrastructure projects, the Prime Minister laid the foundation stone for the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence at a cost exceeding Rs 350 crore. This upcoming medical facility aims to elevate healthcare standards in the region.

In his address, Prime Minister Modi emphasized the transformative power of connectivity and the role infrastructure plays in national unity. "Today, the Chenab Bridge is not just a bridge of steel and concrete, but a bridge of trust, progress, and pride," he declared.

With the inauguration of the Chenab Bridge and related rail projects, Jammu and Kashmir take a definitive step toward becoming a seamlessly connected, economically vibrant, and strategically fortified region of India.