Chenab Rail Bridge: World’s Highest, Connecting Kashmir to the World

The Chenab Rail Bridge, a steel and concrete arch bridge carrying a single-track railway line, stands as a testament to engineering marvel. Located between Bakkal and Kauri in the Reasi district of Jammu & Kashmir, the bridge spans the Chenab River at a breathtaking height of 359 meters (1,178 feet), making it the world’s highest rail bridge and the world’s highest arch bridge.

Union Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw recently shared a captivating video showcasing the bridge’s grandeur, highlighting its crucial role in connecting the Kashmir valley with the rest of the world. “Helicopter shot – Chenab bridge,” he wrote on X, sharing the video.

Construction on the bridge commenced in 2002, with the base supports being completed in November 2017. This milestone paved the way for the construction of the main arch, which was completed in April 2021. The entire bridge project was finalized in August 2022.

On February 20, 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi officially launched the USBRL project, encompassing the 48.1 km Banihal-Sangaldan section, a significant step towards enhancing connectivity in the region.

A historical moment arrived on June 20, 2023, when Indian Railways successfully conducted a trial run of an eight-coach MEMU train on the bridge. This marked a crucial step towards the commencement of rail service on the route from Reasi to Baramulla in Kashmir.

“After an extensive inspection of the newly constructed Chenab Bridge by senior officers from Railway Board, Northern Railway, and Konkan Railway, a trial run was conducted on a 46-km-long electrified line section between Sangaldan in Ramban district and Reasi at a speed of 40 kmph,” the railways stated in a press release.

The Chenab Rail Bridge stands as a symbol of India’s engineering prowess, a landmark achievement in infrastructure development, and a crucial link in connecting Kashmir with the rest of the nation.