PM Modi to open Chenab Bridge: At 359m, world's highest rail arch towers over Eiffel Tower

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the world’s highest railway bridge, the Chenab Rail Bridge, in Jammu and Kashmir on June 6, marking a landmark in India’s engineering achievements and efforts to strengthen connectivity with the Kashmir Valley. He will also inaugurate the Anji Bridge, India’s first cable-stayed railway bridge built in challenging terrain.

Union Minister Piyush Goyal, announcing the development, wrote in a social media post, “Engineering a Naya Kashmir! PM Narendra Modi will flag off a new era on June 6, inaugurating the Chenab Bridge in J&K – the world’s highest railway bridge! This engineering marvel embodies #NewIndia’s commitment to connectivity and regional development.”

What makes the Chenab bridge a global feat?

Towering 359 metres above the riverbed, 35 metres taller than the Eiffel Tower, the Chenab Bridge is the highest and the longest steel arch railway bridge in the world. Spanning 1,315 metres, the steel arch structure has been built to endure wind speeds over 250 kmph and high seismic activity.

Constructed with over 27,000 tonnes of steel, the bridge has been designed by Canadian engineering firm WSP and built by Afcons Infrastructure.

“History in the making… Part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Link (USBRL). Built to withstand nature’s toughest tests. A proud symbol of New India’s strength and vision,” Jitendra Singh, Minister of Science and Technology and Minister of Earth Sciences, posted on X on June 2.

Situated 600 km north of Delhi, the Chenab Bridge aims to connect the Kashmir Valley to the rest of India via rail, significantly reducing travel time. First envisioned in the 1970s, it is expected to boost tourism and economic activity in the region.

Part of the USBRL mega project

The bridge is a centrepiece of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project, a ₹43,780-crore initiative aimed at connecting the Kashmir Valley with the Indian rail network through all-weather, high-speed connectivity. The 272-km project features 36 tunnels (spanning 119 km), 943 bridges, and India’s longest railway tunnel—Tunnel T-50—measuring 12.77 km.

Work on USBRL began in 1997 but faced multiple delays due to difficult terrain. With the completion of the final 17-km Katra–Reasi stretch last December, the entire link is now operational.

Vande Bharat and connectivity boost

Following the Chenab and Anji bridge inaugurations, PM Modi will flag off two Vande Bharat Express trains—between Katra and Baramulla. These trains will cut travel time between Katra and Srinagar to around three hours, accelerating both passenger and pilgrimage traffic.

“A key impact of the bridge will be in enhancing connectivity between Jammu and Srinagar. Through Vande Bharat train moving on the bridge, it will take just about 3 hours to travel between Katra and Srinagar, reducing existing travel time by 2-3 hours,” the government said in a press release.

The bridge and broader USBRL project are expected to significantly boost tourism and economic development in the region, especially in the wake of recent security challenges and the Pahalgam terror attack.