World’s highest Railway bridge, Chenab Bridge, is part of THIS stretch, higher than Eiffel Tower, height is...connects Kashmir directly with...

Union Minister for Department of Space, Dr Jitendra Singh, announced on Tuesday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the world's highest railway bridge, the Chenab Bridge, on June 6. The bridge is part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Link (USBRL) project in Jammu and Kashmir. In a post on X, Dr Singh shared the news, stating, “History in the making... Just 3 days to go! The mighty Chenab Bridge, the world's highest railway bridge, stands tall in Jammu and Kashmir. Part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Link (USBRL). Built to withstand nature's toughest tests. PM Modi to inaugurate the #ChenabBridge on 6th June, 2025. A proud symbol of New India's strength and vision!” 

The iconic Chenab Railway Bridge, the world's highest railway arch bridge, will be part of this Katra-to-Sangaldan stretch, connecting New Delhi directly with Kashmir via Katra. Situated in the Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir, the Chenab Bridge is an engineering marvel standing at a height of 359 meters above the riverbed. It will officially connect the Kashmir Valley with the rest of India via rail for the first time in history. 

The project, part of the ambitious Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL), faced numerous engineering and logistical challenges due to the region's difficult terrain and seismic sensitivity. Yet, after years of meticulous work, the bridge now stands as a testament to India's technological prowess and commitment to inclusive development. 

It marks a transformative chapter in India's infrastructural landscape, promising greater connectivity, economic growth, and social integration in the region. Earlier, a senior railway official highlighted the newly constructed Chenab Bridge's structural and engineering marvel, calling it a reflection of New India's resolve and capabilities. Speaking about the bridge, the official told ANI, “If I talk about its features: its height is 359 meters, which is even more than that of the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Secondly, this bridge is the world's highest railway arch bridge. Thirdly, this bridge is capable of withstanding winds blowing at speeds greater than 250 kilometers per hour.” 

Describing the scale of the steel construction, the official added, “This is a steel bridge -- I call it a 'fauladi bridge' because around 30,000 metric tons of steel have been used in its construction. You can get an idea of its vastness from the fact that its largest foundation, S20, is roughly one-third the size of a football field. This also reflects the spirit of New India -- what it envisions and resolves, it achieves.” 

He said, “The length of this Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) is around 272 kilometres. Out of this 272 kilometre, nearly 36 tunnels have been constructed with a length of nearly 119 kms. There are approximately 1,000 bridges in this project -- a very large number. Building even one bridge takes several years. Here, skilled railway engineers from India have constructed around 1,000 bridges.” 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by DNA staff and is published from ANI)