The Chenab bridge, the world’s highest rail arch, opens tomorrow in Jammu & Kashmir. Built at ₹1,400 crore, it connects Bakkal and Kauri as part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL).
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate it and also flag off two Vande Bharat trains between Srinagar and Katra.
What does this mean for the average Indian? One word: access. Whether you’re a soldier, a tourist, a trader, or just someone trying to get from Jammu to Srinagar without a 6-hour headache and a landslide scare—this bridge changes the game.
Why the Chenab bridge is a big deal
The Chenab bridge isn’t just tall. It’s absurdly tall—359 metres above the riverbed, making it 35 metres taller than the Eiffel Tower and five times the height of Delhi’s Qutub Minar.
It took over two decades to complete, with construction starting way back in 2003. Built in tough Himalayan terrain, engineers had to hike or ride mules to the site in the early days. Talk about extreme commuting.
This isn’t some cookie-cutter project either. It was designed to withstand earthquakes, extreme winds (up to 260 km/h), and even blasts of up to 40 kg of TNT. Built by Afcons Infrastructure, Ultra Construction & Engineering (South Korea), and VSL India, it’s expected to last 120 years.
History in the making… Just 3 days to go!
The mighty #ChenabBridge, the world’s highest railway bridge, stands tall in #JammuandKashmir.
Part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Link (USBRL). Built to withstand nature’s toughest tests.
PM Sh @narendramodi to… pic.twitter.com/EQnC0m1per
— Dr Jitendra Singh (@DrJitendraSingh) June 3, 2025
From strategy to safety: Why this bridge matters
India has wanted year-round rail access to the Kashmir Valley for decades. Until now, the only major link was the Srinagar-Jammu highway—beautiful, but prone to landslides, snow closures, and endless delays.
The USBRL project, with the Chenab bridge as its crown jewel, now makes that dream real. And it’s not just about convenience. This is a strategic win, allowing the military to move troops and equipment quickly to border areas—no matter the weather.
In the wake of recent tragedies like the Pahalgam terror attack, safe and reliable connectivity is more urgent than ever.
The bridge to Kashmir’s future
The Chenab bridge could also help revive Kashmir’s economy, especially tourism and trade. Fresh apples, dry fruits, carpets, and shawls will now move faster and cheaper. Tourists can skip the nausea-inducing highway ride and take a direct train instead—cutting travel time from 6 hours to just 3.5.
In short: the world’s highest rail bridge isn’t just a feat of engineering. It’s a new path to peace, prosperity, and pride.
As PM Modi puts it: Modi hai to mumkin hai. Kashmir’s bridge to the future is now open.
