Taller Than Eiffel: World’s Highest Railway Bridge Inaugurated in Kashmir

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today inaugurated the Chenab Railway Bridge in Jammu and Kashmir, calling it a proud moment for India. The bridge is now officially the world’s highest railway arch bridge, standing 359 metres above the Chenab River - which is 35 metres taller than the Eiffel Tower.
The Chenab Bridge is an engineering wonder. It is 1,315 metres long and made of steel and concrete. The bridge has a strong two-arch design and can handle powerful earthquakes (up to magnitude 8), big blasts, and extreme weather conditions.

This bridge is a key part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL), a 272-kilometre railway project that has 36 tunnels and 943 bridges, built through the tough Himalayan landscape.

Built at an estimated cost of Rs 43,780 crore, the USBRL will help connect Kashmir to the rest of India with rail service throughout the year, giving a big boost to trade, tourism, and the economy in the region.

IANS spoke to several locals who were present at the event.

Sakshi, a resident, said: "I felt very good. PM Modi spoke about Operation Sindoor and various development projects. I was very happy to hear him."

Sandhya added: "It was our dream to see this train run. It will definitely reduce travel time and boost trade, business, and tourism. Terrorism has impacted tourism, but people still come to visit Vaishno Devi. PM Modi’s statements are completely right. I was saddened by the Pahalgam attack, where terrorists targeted Hindus based on religion."


This was PM Modi's first visit to J&K after the Pahalgam terror attack. – TWL Bureau with inputs from IANS