PM Modi Inaugurates World’s Tallest Chenab Rail Bridge, Launches Vande Bharat Trains in Historic Kashmir Connectivity Push
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday inaugurated the world’s tallest railway bridge over the Chenab river in Jammu and Kashmir, marking a historic milestone in India’s railway infrastructure development. The 1,315-metre-long bridge, standing 359 metres above the riverbed, is taller than Paris’s Eiffel Tower and forms the backbone of the ambitious Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project.
The Prime Minister also flagged off two Vande Bharat Express trains connecting Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra to Srinagar, establishing the first semi-high-speed rail service to the Kashmir Valley. The inauguration ceremony was held after PM Modi arrived at the Air Force station in Udhampur and took an aerial route to the bridge site.
The Chenab bridge represents a quantum leap in India’s railway connectivity, seamlessly linking the Kashmir Valley to the rest of the country via rail for the first time. The architectural feat has been designed to withstand extreme weather conditions, including earthquakes and high-velocity winds common in the region.
The bridge forms the most critical component of the USBRL project, which has been under construction for over a decade. The project aims to provide all-weather connectivity to the Kashmir Valley, reducing dependence on road transport that often gets disrupted due to weather conditions.
This marks PM Modi’s first visit to Kashmir since Operation Sindoor, India’s retaliatory military operation conducted in April following the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives. The timing of the visit underscores the government’s commitment to development and normalcy in the region.
The Prime Minister is also scheduled to inaugurate India’s first cable-stayed railway bridge at Anji later in the day, further strengthening the region’s rail infrastructure.
The completion of the Chenab bridge and the launch of Vande Bharat services represent significant steps in the government’s broader strategy to integrate Kashmir with the rest of India through improved connectivity. The rail link is expected to boost tourism, facilitate trade, and provide employment opportunities in the region.
The USBRL project, once fully operational, will reduce travel time between Jammu and Srinagar significantly and provide a reliable alternative to the Jammu-Srinagar highway, which frequently faces disruptions due to landslides and adverse weather conditions.
The USBRL project was conceived to address the long-standing connectivity challenges faced by Kashmir. The region has historically depended on a single highway for surface connectivity with the rest of India, making it vulnerable to blockades during winter months and security situations.
The Chenab bridge construction began in 2004 but faced multiple delays due to technical challenges posed by the difficult terrain and extreme weather conditions. The project gained momentum in recent years as part of the government’s focus on infrastructure development in border regions.
The introduction of Vande Bharat services to Kashmir follows the successful operation of these trains on various routes across India, providing passengers with modern amenities and reduced travel times.
