Jammu: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the world’s highest railway arch bridge, the iconic Chenab Bridge, situated on the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) in Jammu and Kashmir.
Constructed over the Chenab River at the height of 359 meters taller than the Eiffel Tower, the arch-shaped bridge is the tallest railway bridge in the world.
It forms the most iconic structure of the ₹43,780-crore USBRL project, which spans 272 km and includes 36 tunnels (measuring 119 km in total) and 943 bridges.
Modi interacted with engineers and officials associated with the construction of the engineering marvel, which now connects the Kashmir Valley with the rest of India through an all-weather rail network.
Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, and Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office Dr. Jitendra Singh were also present at the event.
5. The Chenab Bridge – world’s highest railway arch bridge.
– Length: 1.3 Km
– Height: 359 m (35 m higher than Eiffel Tower)
– Steel welding: More than 600 Km, that is more than the length of Jammu to Delhi Railway track. pic.twitter.com/fjlKCIPGjO— Ashwini Vaishnaw (@AshwiniVaishnaw) June 5, 2025
The USBRL project, which began in 1997, has been completed in phases with the final 17-km Reasi-Katra section completed in December 2024.
In a major push to transportation and connectivity, PM Modi flagged off two Vande Bharat Express trains connecting Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra to Srinagar and back. The trains aim to offer swift and reliable connectivity for residents, tourists, and pilgrims.
At Katra, the Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone, inaugurated, and dedicated to the nation’s development projects worth over ₹46,000 crore. These include several road projects intended to boost last-mile and border-area connectivity.
Among them are the widening of the Rafiabad-Kupwara road (NH-701) and the Shopian bypass (NH-444), with a combined outlay of over ₹1,952 crore.
Modi also inaugurated flyovers at Sangrama Junction (NH-1) and Bemina Junction (NH-44) in Srinagar to ease traffic congestion and improve urban mobility.
Further strengthening the region’s healthcare infrastructure, the Prime Minister laid the foundation stone for the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence at Katra. With an investment of over ₹350 crore, it will be the first medical college in the Reasi district and is expected to significantly enhance healthcare services in the region.
First Vande Bharat Train crossing the world’s highest railway bridge on the Chenab River in J&K.
It took 77 years to connect Jammu and Kashmir through Railways.
It took just 4 years for the Modi govt to do this post-370 abrogation. pic.twitter.com/s3033KiDiZ
— Rishi Bagree (@rishibagree) June 4, 2025
USBRL Completion Timeline
The 272-km USBRL project was completed in stages:
- Qazigund-Baramulla (118 km) commissioned in October 2009
- Banihal-Qazigund (18 km) in June 2013
- Udhampur-Katra (25 km) in July 2014
- Banihal-Sangaldan (48.1 km) in February 2023
- Sangaldan-Reasi (46 km) completed in June 2023
- Reasi-Katra (17 km) completed in December 2024
The USBRL now offers seamless rail connectivity from Udhampur to Baramulla, integrating the Kashmir Valley with the national railway grid for the first time in independent India’s history.
