PM Modi Inaugurates World’s Highest Rail Bridge Over Chenab, Flags Off Vande Bharat Train

PM Modi inaugurates world’s highest Chenab Rail Bridge in J&K, flags off Vande Bharat to Srinagar, and launches ₹46,000 crore infrastructure projects.

PM Modi Inaugurated Chenab Rail Arc Bridge In Reasi Jammu Kashmir USBRL

Source : Special Arrangements

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today inaugurated the iconic Chenab Rail Bridge in Reasi, Jammu and Kashmir, marking a historic milestone in India’s infrastructure journey. The bridge, part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project, is now the world’s tallest railway arch bridge and a testament to India's engineering excellence.

Arriving at the Air Force Station in Udhampur earlier in the day, PM Modi flew by chopper to the inauguration site. He later flagged off the first Vande Bharat Express from Katra to Srinagar, celebrating the completion of the 272-km USBRL project that links Kashmir with the rest of India through seamless rail connectivity.

#WATCH | J&K: Prime Minister Narendra Modi waves the Tiranga as he inaugurates Chenab bridge - the world’s highest railway arch bridge.#KashmirOnTrack

(Video: DD) pic.twitter.com/xfBnSRUQV5

— ANI (@ANI) June 6, 2025

PM Modi also inaugurated India’s first cable-stayed Anji Bridge and dedicated multiple infrastructure projects worth over ₹46,000 crore, including new roads, flyovers, and the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence.

The Chenab Bridge, lauded globally for its structural complexity and strategic significance, stands as a symbol of national pride. Dilip Kumar, Executive Director of the Railway Board, hailed it as “one of the most historic milestones since independence.”

Anji Khad Bridge: India’s First Cable-Stayed Railway Bridge

In another major milestone, PM Modi also inaugurated the Anji Khad Bridge, India’s first cable-stayed railway bridge, built over the Anji River in the same district. This trailblazing structure connects Katra and Reasi, further enhancing rail connectivity in a region marked by extreme geographical challenges.

Set against the snow-capped Himalayan backdrop and located about 80 km from Jammu, the Anji Bridge is an emblem of innovation and resilience. Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw shared a breathtaking video of the bridge on Friday with a poetic caption in Hindi: "Think firmly, There is a wide path of virtue, Keep moving forward. Keep moving forward."

Key Features of the Anji Khad Bridge:

• India’s first cable-stayed railway bridge

• Total length: 725 metres

• Height above riverbed: 331 metres

• Main pylon height: 193 metres (inverted Y-shaped)

• Anchored by: 96 high-tensile cables

• Total cable length used: 653 kilometres

• Steel used: Over 8,200 metric tonnes

• Construction period: Completed in just 11 months

Massive Infrastructure Push

Alongside these feats, PM Modi also dedicated infrastructure projects worth over ₹46,000 crore, which include new roads, flyovers, and the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence, reinforcing the government’s commitment to transforming the connectivity and healthcare landscape in Jammu and Kashmir.