WATCH Live: Chenab Bridge Inauguration, Katra Srinagar Vande Bharat Launch; PM Modi's Big Kashmir Push

In his first visit to Jammu and Kashmir since the launch of Operation Sindoor, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will today inaugurate key infrastructure projects that will reshape Kashmir's connectivity and economy.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Chenab Bridge, the world’s highest railway bridge, which spans the Chenab River at a height of 359 metres and the Anji Bridge, which is part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Link (USBRL). The Prime Minister will also flag off two Vande Bharat Express trains between Srinagar and Katra.

PM Modi visits S-70 View Point in Jammu and Kashmir

PM Modi interacts with the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link Project Team

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone and inaugurate development works in Katra, Jammu and Kashmir. The live streaming of the event is scheduled to begin at 12:30 pm on Friday, June 6.

The Chenab Bridge spans a distance of 1.31 km. The steel arch bridge has been constructed at a height of 359 metres (1,178 ft) above the Chenab river, 35 metres more than the height of the Eiffel Tower. The bridge was constructed by a joint venture comprising VSL India, Afcons Infrastructure and Ultra Construction. Konkan Railway Corporation Ltd. executed the project.

The bridge aims to facilitate train services between Bakkal and Kauri in the Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir. It will serve as an important link between Katra and Banihal.

The inauguration, earlier scheduled for April 19, was postponed due to adverse weather conditions.

Facts About Chenab Bridge

• The cost of the project is around Rs 1,486 crore.

• The Chenab Bridge has been built to face extreme weather conditions. The steel used in the bridge is suitable for temperatures ranging from 40°C to  -10°C. The structure can withstand wind speeds of up to 266 km/hr.

• The lifespan of the bridge is expected to be 120 years. 

• Construction of the bridge required fabrication of 28,660 metric tonnes (MT) of steel, 66,000 cum concrete, 10 Lakh cum earthwork and 26 km of motorable roads.

• The bridge has 17 spans, with the length of the main span reaching 460 metres. The curvilinear arch span has a length of 550 m. The arch has a total weight of 10,619 MT.

Anji Bridge is the country's "first cable-stayed bridge" of Indian Railways connecting Katra and Reasi in Jammu and Kashmir. The bridge is a part of the national project of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) Project.

Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Friday shared a breathtaking video of India's first cable-stayed railway bridge, the Anji Bridge, built on the Anji River in Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi district.

About 80 kilometres from Jammu city, the bridge is set against a striking backdrop of snow-covered peaks. Towering 331 metres above the riverbed and stretching 725 metres across, it is anchored by 96 high tensile cables. It has been designed to handle heavy storms of strong winds due to the high altitude. The geology of the region is extremely complex, making it impossible for an arch bridge to be constructed. Due to this, the bridge has a single pylon. The pylon had to be constructed on a vertical slope by using micropiles of 40 metres in depth.

The Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Link, of which the bridge is a part, is aimed at connecting Jammu with Srinagar. The stretch connecting the Kashmir Valley by train includes 927 bridges, 38 tunnels and the Chenab Railway Bridge. The Northern Railway has conducted several trial runs on this section over the past few months.

At Katra, the pilgrimage base camp for the Vaishno Devi shrine, PM Modi will flag off two Vande Bharat Express trains. These will run from the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra to Srinagar and back, offering a comfortable travel option for residents, tourists and pilgrims.

These trains will effectively reduce the travel time between Katra and Srinagar to just about three hours, reducing the usual travel time by three hours. 

Unlike other trains, these have been tailored for the harsh Himalayan winters. It can run smoothly even at a minimum of minus 20 degrees Celsius, ensuring that it remains operational throughout the year. The new trains feature heated windshields, advanced heating systems, as well as insulated toilets to ensure a comfortable journey.

In order to support the route, a snow removal train will move ahead of Vande Bharat to clear the tracks in the high-risk zone. Also, seismic dampers have been installed to absorb tremors.

- with inputs from PTI