Chenab Bridge: PM Modi To Inaugurate World's Highest Railway Bridge On April 19 — All You Need To Know
The people of Jammu and Kashmir will get the bridge after two decades of waiting since the project was approved in 2003, but was delayed shortly due to fears of stability and safety.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Chenab Bridge on April 10. The world's highest railway bridge spans the Chenab River at a height of 359 m.
In a post on X, Union Minister Jitendra Singh announced that the iconic railway bridge in the Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir will be inaugurated by PM Modi in next 12 days.
“Countdown begins… In just 12 days from now, on April 19, 2025, PM Sh @narendramodi will inaugurate the world’s highest railway bridge — the iconic #Chenab Bridge! An engineering marvel, a proud symbol of New India! #JammuAndKashmir,” the Minister of State for PMO posted on X on Monday.
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During his visit to Jammu and Kashmir, PM Modi will also flag off the Vande Bharat train from Katra.
The project to connect Srinagar with Jammu was launched in 1997 and it faced multiple delays due to tough terrain. This stretch connecting the Kashmir valley directly through the rail network includes 38 tunnels, 927 bridges, and the iconic Chenab Railway Bridge. Northern Railway has already run several trial runs in the last two months on this section between Jammu and Srinagar. Rail connectivity in the Kashmir valley was so far limited to the Sangaldan-Baramulla section.
The steel arch bridge built over the Chenab river is one of the biggest accomplishments in the history of the Indian Railways. It is taller than the Eiffel Tower. The bridge will facilitate train services between Bakkal and Kauri in the Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir. It will serve as an important link from Katra to Banihal.
Interesting Facts About Chenab Bridge
The bridge connects Bakkal and Kauri in the Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir.
It costs around Rs 1,486 crore.
The bridge has been built at a height of 359 m (1,178 ft) above the river, which is 35 m more than the height of the Eiffel Tower.
The bridge spans a distance of 1.31 km.
The Chenab Rail Bridge was built by a joint venture of Afcons Infrastructure, VSL India, and Ultra Construction, with Konkan Railway Corporation Ltd. executing the project.
It is part of the "Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat" project, which seeks to increase understanding and bonding between different parts of the country. The project aims to improve Kashmir’s connectivity with the rest of the country.
Total weight of the arch is 10,619 MT (metric tons).
The lifespan of the Chenab Bridge is expected to be 120 years.
It can withstand a wind speed of up to 266 km/hr.
Steel used in the bridge is suitable for temperatures between -10°C to 40°C.
The arch bridge has 17 spans, and the length of the main arch span is 460 metres. The length of the curvilinear arch span is 550 m.
Trains can cross the bridge at a speed of 100 km/hr.
Construction of the Chenab Bridge required fabrication of 28,660 MT of steel, 10 Lakh cum earthwork, 66,000 cum concrete and 26 km motorable roads.
