Chenab Bridge Becomes Star Attraction For Travellers Flying Over Jammu And Kashmir
The bridge, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 6, has turned into a high-altitude attraction.
Air passengers flying over Jammu and Kashmir are now being treated to a striking aerial view of the newly inaugurated Chenab railway bridge, transforming routine flights into moments of national pride.
The world’s tallest railway arch bridge, a marvel of India’s engineering prowess, is now capturing the imagination of travellers mid-air, The Economic Times reported.
The bridge, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 6, has turned into a high-altitude attraction. According to a Railway Ministry press release cited by publication, pilots have begun making special in-flight announcements when flying over the region, prompting excited passengers to reach for their phone cameras.
Dilip Kumar, executive director of Information and Publicity at the Railway Board, said that flights passing over the valleys of Jammu and Kashmir these days see a special moment as aircraft approach the Chenab valley.
“The pilot's voice echoes through the cabin: ‘Below you is the world's tallest railway-arch bridge, the Chenab Bridge’,” said Kumar.
The announcement invariably sparks frenzy inside the cabin. Travellers are seen rushing to the windows to capture the structure from the sky. Some record videos, while others click photographs of the engineering wonder, the ET report added.
“A wave of pride sweeps through the cabin — passengers clap, smile and share words of admiration for the brilliance of Indian engineering,” the ET report noted, citing the Railway Ministry statement.
The enthusiasm isn’t limited to just those in the air. The excitement has quickly spread across the ground in nearby villages and mountainous regions. Locals have been actively visiting the bridge site, capturing images and videos of the structure from all possible angles.
“Some are live-streaming the moment, while others are sharing it instantly across Instagram and Facebook,” a railway official was quoted as saying by ET.
All About The Chenab Bridge
The Chenab Bridge forms a vital part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project. Towering 359 metres above the riverbed, the bridge stretches across the Chenab river near the Salal dam and spans a total length of 1,315 metres. The structure’s central steel arch alone spans 467 metres and is engineered to resist wind speeds up to 266 kmph. Standing 35 metres taller than the Eiffel Tower and nearly five times the height of Qutub Minar, it is a record-breaking marvel in every sense.
In building the bridge, Indian Railways employed a state-of-the-art cable crane system — a first in its history — involving two giant cable cars and 100-metre-tall pylons to construct the 915-metre-wide span.
With the bridge now open, both tourists on the ground and passengers above are finding new ways to celebrate and share a moment of national pride, one breathtaking view at a time.
