PM Modi Inaugurates World’s Highest Rail Bridge, Enhancing Kashmir’s Connectivity

On Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi officially inaugurated the Chenab rail bridge, which now holds the title of the world’s tallest railway arch bridge. This milestone marks the completion of a project that began over four decades ago, aiming to connect the Kashmir Valley with the rest of India by rail.

The final segment of the 272-km Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Line (USBRL) has now been linked, with earlier sections having opened gradually from 2009 through early 2024. This includes:

• Qazigund-Baramulla (118 km) – operational since 2009
• Qazigund-Banihal (18 km) – opened in 2013
• Udhampur-Katra (25 km) – launched in 2014
• Banihal-Sangaldan (48.1 km) – inaugurated in February 2024

This fully electrified rail route includes 36 tunnels and 943 bridges that cut across the Himalayas. It’s set to significantly boost regional development, improve trade routes, enhance tourism, and offer reliable year-round connectivity for the people of Jammu and Kashmir.