World’s Highest Railway Bridge To Be Inaugurated On April 19

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is all set to inaugurate the world’s highest railway bridge — the iconic Chenab Bridge — on April 19, 2025, Union Minister of State Jitendra Singh announced on social media platform X on Monday.

“Countdown begins…In just 12 days from now, on April 19, 2025, PM Sh Narendra Modi will inaugurate the world’s highest railway bridge — the iconic Chenab Bridge!” he wrote.

During his upcoming visit to Jammu and Kashmir, the Prime Minister is also expected to flag off the Vande Bharat Express from Katra.
The Chenab Bridge, a key component of the long-awaited Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL), connects the remote and mountainous regions of Jammu and Kashmir to the rest of India.

Originally launched in 1997, the railway project faced numerous setbacks due to the region’s challenging geography. However, recent trial runs by Northern Railway on the Jammu-Srinagar section signal that the long-pending dream is finally becoming a reality.

Until now, rail services in Kashmir were limited to the Sangaldan-Baramulla stretch. The new section, featuring 38 tunnels and 927 bridges, will finally establish direct train connectivity through the valley.

About the Chenab Bridge.

The Chenab Railway Bridge is not only a feat of engineering but also a symbol of national integration under the ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’ initiative. The bridge spans the Chenab River, connecting Bakkal and Kauri in the Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir.

Here are some key features:

• Height: Standing 359 meters (1,178 feet) above the riverbed, it is 35 meters taller than the Eiffel Tower.
• Length: The bridge stretches across 1.31 kilometres.
• Construction Cost: Approximately ₹1,486 crore.
• Speed: Trains will be able to travel over it at 100 km/h.
• Engineering Marvel: The bridge includes 17 spans, with the main arch span measuring 460 meters and a curved arch span of 550 meters.
• Durability: Built to last 120 years and withstand winds up to 266 km/h.
• Materials Used: It required 28,660 metric tonnes of steel, 66,000 cubic meters of concrete, 10 lakh cubic meters of earthwork, and the construction of 26 kilometres of motorable roads.
• Weather Resilience: The special steel used can withstand temperatures between -10°C and 40°C.
• Built by: A joint venture of Afcons Infrastructure, VSL India, and Ultra Construction, with Konkan Railway Corporation Ltd as the executing agency.

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The bridge will form a critical link between Bakkal and Kauri, enhancing rail connectivity from Katra to Banihal and making all-weather, seamless transport a possibility in the valley. This monumental project is expected to play a key role in improving accessibility, boosting tourism, and fostering socio-economic development in the region.