Historic Achievement: World’s Highest Railway Bridge Over Chenab Inaugurated by PM Modi in Reasi

Reasi, Jammu & Kashmir — June 6, 2025:
In a historic moment for India’s railway infrastructure, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the world’s highest railway bridge over the Chenab River in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi district today. This remarkable engineering marvel, along with the newly constructed Anji Bridge, represents a major step forward in the country’s connectivity and regional development.

The world’s highest railway bridge over Chenab stands as a symbol of resilience, ambition, and technological prowess. It is not only a tribute to Indian engineering excellence but also a catalyst for economic transformation in the Jammu and Kashmir region.

Engineering Feat: The World’s Highest Railway Bridge Over Chenab

The world’s highest railway bridge over Chenab rises 359 meters above the riverbed—35 meters taller than the Eiffel Tower. Designed to withstand earthquakes, high-speed winds, and extreme temperatures, the bridge connects the Bakkal and Kauri regions and is part of the larger Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project.

Constructed using over 28,000 tonnes of steel, the bridge stretches across 1.3 kilometers and took several years of advanced engineering, rigorous testing, and strategic planning to complete. It sets a new benchmark not just in India, but globally, for railway bridge construction.

Anji Bridge: India’s First Cable-Stayed Rail Bridge

Alongside the Chenab marvel, the Anji Bridge, India’s first cable-stayed railway bridge, was also inaugurated. Spanning the Anji River, the bridge is equally significant in terms of innovation and design. It features a single pylon supporting a span of 290 meters and has been constructed in challenging terrain with high seismic activity.

Both bridges are expected to revolutionize rail travel in Jammu and Kashmir by enabling year-round connectivity and reducing dependency on weather conditions and road transport.

PM Modi’s Vision for Enhanced Connectivity

Speaking at the event, Prime Minister Modi emphasized the government’s commitment to enhancing national connectivity and bridging developmental gaps across regions.

“These bridges, especially the world’s highest railway bridge over Chenab, are not just structures of steel and concrete; they are lifelines of transformation and trust. They symbolize the rising aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” said PM Modi.

The Prime Minister also reiterated the government’s focus on “last-mile connectivity,” especially in strategically important and remote areas like Jammu and Kashmir.

Economic and Strategic Impact

The world’s highest railway bridge over Chenab is expected to play a transformative role in the socio-economic development of the region. It will:

• Boost tourism in Kashmir and the Pir Panjal region
• Improve logistics and reduce travel time for goods and passengers
• Enhance strategic mobility for defense forces in border regions
• Create employment and drive ancillary industry development

The completion of this infrastructure milestone is seen as a clear signal of India’s growing engineering capabilities and its strategic intent to improve border-state connectivity.

Looking Ahead

The inauguration of the world’s highest railway bridge over Chenab and the Anji Bridge is a landmark achievement that not only connects geographies but also binds people, cultures, and economies.

With such visionary projects, India is fast-tracking its path toward becoming a global leader in infrastructure development, while simultaneously uplifting regions that were once considered inaccessible.

As rail engines begin their journey across these monumental bridges, they carry with them the hopes, dreams, and potential of an empowered and connected India.