The bridge was inaugurated on Friday by PM Modi. He also opened India’s first cable-stayed Anji Bridge in the Reasi district and flagged off two Vande Bharat Express trains from Katra Railway Station, directly connecting the Jammu division with Kashmir
PM Narendra Modi, Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha, CM Omar Abdullah and Union Ministers Ashwini Vaishnaw and Jitendra Singh during the flagging off of a Vande Bharat Express train on Friday. PIC/PTI
Calling the day "historic," Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Friday said that the Chenab Bridge, part of the Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Line (USBRL), was constructed by working in harmony with nature.
Addressing the public during the inauguration of the Chenab Bridge, Railway Minister Vaishnaw said, "Today is a historic day. Another gem has been added to Jammu and Kashmir. Today, PM Modi has inaugurated the railway line connecting Jammu to Srinagar. The country had cherished the dream of this railway line for decades. There were great challenges in its construction... Instead of trying to conquer nature, working in harmony with nature, this railway line has become a reality today through this network of bridges and tunnels. This was made possible due to the steely determination, hard work and laser-sharp focus of our Prime Minister."
On Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the world’s highest railway arch bridge — the Chenab Railway Bridge — and India’s first cable-stayed Anji Bridge in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi district.
He also flagged off two Vande Bharat Express trains from Katra Railway Station, directly connecting the Jammu division with Kashmir, marking a major historic milestone in Jammu and Kashmir’s railway connectivity.
Before flagging off the trains, PM Modi interacted with school children on board and spoke with railway staff members present on the train.
Meanwhile, the new Vande Bharat Express service will reduce the travel time between Katra and Srinagar from the current six to seven hours by road to just about three hours. The trains aim to provide a fast, comfortable, and reliable travel option for residents, tourists, and pilgrims.
It will run across the Anji Khad Bridge, India’s first cable-stayed railway bridge, and the Chenab Bridge, the highest railway bridge in the world.
According to ANI, these trains have been specially designed to operate in the cold climatic conditions of the Kashmir Valley.
In a remarkable gesture, PM Modi waved the Tiranga, the Indian national flag, and carried it forward on the deck of the bridge over the Chenab River.
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah were also present during the inauguration.
These bridges are part of the ambitious Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Link (USBRL) project in Jammu and Kashmir.
The iconic Chenab Railway Bridge, the world’s highest railway arch bridge, is part of the Katra-to-Sangaldan stretch, connecting New Delhi directly with Kashmir via Katra. Situated in the Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir, the Chenab Bridge is an engineering marvel standing at a height of 359 metres above the riverbed. It will officially connect the Kashmir Valley with the rest of India via rail for the first time in history, reported ANI.
However, the project faced numerous engineering and logistical challenges due to the region’s difficult terrain and seismic sensitivity. Yet, after years of meticulous work, the bridge now stands as a testament to India’s technological prowess and commitment to inclusive development.
Achieving a historic milestone, it marks a transformative chapter in India’s infrastructural landscape, promising greater connectivity, economic growth, and social integration in the region.
The Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project is a 272 km long project constructed at a cost of around Rs 43,780 crore, which includes 36 tunnels (spanning 119 km) and 943 bridges. The project establishes all-weather, seamless rail connectivity between the Kashmir Valley and the rest of the country, aiming to transform regional mobility and drive socio-economic integration.
(With inputs from ANI)
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
