Perched 1,178 feet above the pristine Chenab River in the Kauri region of the Reasi district, the Chenab Railway Bridge is now open to the world. The construction of the bridge was approved in 2003 and contracted in 2008 as part of the INR 35,000 crore Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Line (USBRL) project. A marvel of modern engineering, it is the highest railway bridge in the world and will provide all-weather connectivity to the Kashmir Valley. The bridge features 93 deck segments and is a part of the much-anticipated 272-km-long railway line from Udhampur to Baramulla.
Chenab railway bridge to improve connectivity to and from Jammu and Kashmir
PM Modi to inaugurate the world’s highest ‘Chenab Rail Bridge’ in J&K on Febraury 20. pic.twitter.com/tqmFihEdg9
— News IADN (@NewsIADN) February 17, 2024
For the people of Jammu and Kashmir, the bridge comes after a long wait of two decades as the project has missed several deadlines after getting its first approval in 2003.
At 114.8 feet taller than the famed Eiffel Tower, the Chenab Railway Bridge stretches across a length of roughly 4,314 feet and is a testament to human perseverance. Its sleek steel arch design is equipped to tackle the harsh Himalayan weather as well as seismic activity. The bridge can endure heavy-speed winds up to 266 kmph and bear earthquakes of the highest intensity zone-V. Built at a cost of INR 14,000 crore, the Chenab Rail Bridge has a lifespan of 120 years. The various tests conducted to assess the stability and safety of the single-arch railway bridge include extreme temperature test, high-velocity winds test, tests to check the hydrological impact in case of an increase in water levels, as well as earthquake-prone tests.
Related Stories
It took the engineers three years to construct the gigantic arch that gives the bridge its signature look. For its construction, two cable cranes were installed on the two banks of the Chenab River, the Bakkal end and the Kauri end. The bridge is expected to be useful for the armed forces deployed in this geographically important region and also help boost tourism.
Additionally, upon the completion of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Line (USBRL) project, a Vande Bharat Metro Train will also run between Jammu and Srinagar.
Prime Minister @narendramodi will visit Jammu tomorrow where he will dedicate to the nation and lay the foundation stone of multiple development projects worth over Rs 30,500 crore. The projects relate to several sectors including health, education, rail, road, aviation,… pic.twitter.com/m4trlUUYKL
— DD News (@DDNewslive) February 19, 2024
On February 20, 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also inaugurated the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Jammu among a slew of other development projects.
(Feature Image Credit: Konkan Railways)
Related: Give Gulmarg A Break And Explore These Offbeat Places In Kashmir This Summer
Written By
Eshita Srinivas
Eshita is a food, alcohol, travel, and entertainment writer who spends her days zeroing in on the next big trend to write about. She’s a communication graduate with bylines in Conde Nast Traveller India, GQ India, Deccan Herald, and Girls Buzz. When not at work, you’re likely to find her hunting for a good read or charting out the perfect itinerary ..Read More
