Chenab Bridge: A Landmark of Kashmir’s New Connectivity, Set to be Inaugurated on June 6

National News: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will dedicate to the nation the world's tallest railway bridge, the Chenab Rail Bridge, built on the Chenab River in Jammu and Kashmir on June 6. This bridge will not only link the Kashmir Valley with the rest of India but also transform the region’s trade, tourism, and industrial growth. This amazing marvel of engineering is built at a height of 359 meters, which is 35 meters higher than the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

An example of engineering: technology and strength

This bridge, an important part of the 272 km-long Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla railway line, has been built at a cost of Rs 1486 crore. Its design is such that it can withstand winds of 266 kilometers per hour and is also capable of withstanding the strongest level of earthquake up to 8. This bridge has 28,000 metric tons of steel and more than six lakh bolts, which can be gauged from its strength and durability. The length of the bridge is 1315 meters, and it has 17 spans.

PM मोदी 6 जून को जम्मू-कश्मीर में स्थित चेनाब ब्रिज का उद्घाटन करेंगे. यह पुल दुनिया का सबसे ऊंचा रेलवे पुल है. यह समुद्र तल से 359 मीटर की ऊंचाई पर स्थित है, जो एफिल टॉवर से भी ऊंचा है. यह पुल चिनाब नदी पर बना है और इसे भारतीय रेलवे की अभूतपूर्व इंजीनियरिंग उपलब्धियों में से एक… pic.twitter.com/XkKrRuSe0Z

— NDTV India (@ndtvindia) June 4, 2025

Revolution in connectivity: reduction in travel time

The construction of the Chenab Bridge will reduce the distance and travel time from Katra to Srinagar by about three hours. This will greatly facilitate the residents and travelers of the valley in commuting. The bridge’s first trial run was successfully completed in June 2024, followed by the Vande Bharat train trial in January 2025. These steps are big steps towards better connectivity in Jammu and Kashmir.

Development of extensive rail network in Jammu and Kashmir

Under this project, 17 stations have been built on a total rail route of 272 km. The project features 36 tunnels spanning over 119 kilometers, with the longest being the 12.77 km T-50 tunnel This rail network has also been 100% electrified, making it modern and sustainable from the environmental point of view. This step will prove to be helpful in achieving Prime Minister Modi's 'zero carbon emission' target.

Trade, tourism and security will get a new direction

The expansion of rail connectivity will greatly benefit religious and cultural tourism in Kashmir. Major sites like Kheer Bhawani Temple, Martand Sun Temple, and Amarnath Yatra will now be easily accessible. Apart from this, four cargo terminals between Banihal and Baramulla will help in transporting local products like apples, dry fruits, handicrafts, and pashmina shawls to the markets. From a military point of view also, this rail link will ensure fast supply to the border areas, thereby strengthening national security.