Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday inaugurated the world’s tallest railway Arch Bridge ‘Chenab Railway Bridge’ and India’s first cable-sted ‘Fix Bridge’ in the Reasi districts of Jammu and Kashmir.
Giving a notable indication, Prime Minister Modi waved the Indian national flag tricolor and took it forward on the deck of the bridge on the Chenab river. During the inauguration, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav were present. The Prime Minister inspected the Railway Arch Bridge before the bridge was inaugurated.
During this, Prime Minister Modi met and interacted with Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav and Union Minister of State Jitendra Singh. He also interacted with the workers working on the USBRL project.
These bridges are part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Link (USBRL) project in Jammu and Kashmir. The Eminent Chenab Railway Bridge is part of the world’s highest railway Arch Bridge, Katra-Se-Sangaldan section, which connects Delhi directly to Kashmir via Kashi. It is located in Reasi district.
The world’s highest railway Arch Bridge, the prestigious Chenab Railway Bridge, is part of the Katra-Sangaldan section, which directly connects New Delhi to Kashmir via Katra. Located in Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir, Chenab Bridge is an engineering miracle standing at an altitude of 359 meters above the river floor. It will officially connect the Kashmir Valley to the rest of India through rail for the first time in history.
Part of ambitious Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) faced several engineering and logistics challenges due to the difficult terrain and seismic sensitivity of the region. Nevertheless, after careful work of years, this bridge is now a proof of India’s technical capacity and commitment to inclusive development.
India’s infrastructure scenario is a transformative chapter that promises better connectivity, economic development and social integration in the region.
Apart from this, Prime Minister Modi will also flag off two Vande Bharat trains going from Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra to Srinagar and back.
The Prime Minister will also dedicate the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project to the nation. The 272 km long USBRL project, constructed at a cost of about Rs 43,780 crore, includes 36 tunnels (extending up to 119 km) and 943 bridges. The project establishes uninterrupted rail connectivity between the Kashmir Valley and the rest of the country, which aims to change regional mobility and promote socio-economic integration.
