PM Modi inaugurates Chenab Rail Bridge | In a historic and high-security visit to Jammu and Kashmir, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated a series of landmark infrastructure projects aimed at transforming the region’s connectivity, economy, and tourism potential. This is Modi’s first visit to the Union Territory since the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 lives.
The centrepiece of the visit is the inauguration of the long-awaited Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Link (USBRL)—a 272-km railway project spanning the treacherous Himalayan terrain. The project, nearly 30 years in the making, is being hailed as one of the most significant engineering accomplishments in India’s transport history.
Watch PM Modi’s full address here:
The inauguration of mega infrastructure projects today marks a turning point in Jammu and Kashmir’s development journey. Addressing a programme in Katra. https://t.co/yW4P7yaaRf
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 6, 2025
World’s Highest Rail Bridge and India’s First Cable-Stayed Rail Bridge Inaugurated
Prime Minister Modi inaugurated two monumental structures that form part of the USBRL:
Chenab Rail Bridge: Towering 359 metres above the Chenab River in Reasi district, it is now the world’s highest railway arch bridge, 35 metres taller than the Eiffel Tower. Designed to endure winds up to 260 km/h and seismic tremors, the Rs 1,486 crore structure is expected to last 120 years.
Anji Khad Bridge: India’s first cable-stayed railway bridge, located between Katra and Reasi, was also inspected by PM Modi during his journey from the Chenab Bridge to Katra.
Both bridges stand as testimonies to Indian engineering amid the world’s most challenging topography.
Flagging Off Vande Bharat Trains to Boost Connectivity
From Katra—the base for the Vaishno Devi pilgrimage—PM Modi flagged off two Vande Bharat Express trains connecting Baramulla and Katra. These semi-high-speed trains will run six days a week starting June 7, drastically reducing travel time across the Valley and improving accessibility.
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The visit carries strong strategic and political messaging. It comes just weeks after the Pahalgam terror attack and coincides with the ongoing Operation Sindoor, aimed at dismantling terror infrastructure across the Line of Control.
“In this war against terrorism, the unity of the country, the solidarity of 140 crore Indians is our biggest strength,” PM Modi said in his Mann Ki Baat radio address following the Pahalgam attack. He reaffirmed that India’s response to terrorism would be “decisive” and warned that “perpetrators and their sponsors would face the severest punishment”.
A 30-Year Journey to Completion
The USBRL project was first sanctioned in 1994 under then-Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao. Construction gained momentum only in 2002 under the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government.
Phased progress over the years includes:
- Qazigund to Baramulla (118 km) in 2009
- Banihal to Qazigund (18 km) in 2013
- Udhampur to Katra (25 km) in 2014
- Banihal to Sangaldan (48.1 km) in 2024
- Sangaldan to Reasi (46 km) in December 2024
The final 46-km stretch involved heavy tunneling and the construction of iconic bridges.
Engineering Marvels Through Himalayan Terrain
According to Northern Railways, the USBRL’s Katra-Banihal section is a feat of civil and rail engineering:
- 4 km of the 111-km section lies in tunnels
- 49 bridges, including Chenab, Anji, Bridge 220, and Bridge 224
- Longest tunnel, T-50, spans 12.77 km
- 25 main tunnels and 8 escape tunnels total 163.82 km
- Advanced fire-resistant and CCTV systems installed
Overall, the USBRL features 943 bridges and 36 tunnels (spanning 119 km) and traverses the Pir Panjal and Lower Himalayas, bringing the total project cost to Rs 43,780 crore.
Economic and Tourism Boost Expected
Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw emphasized the project’s economic potential.
“We are making a total of five terminals between Baramulla and Jammu. This will significantly ease the transportation of fruits, handicrafts and other goods,” he said.
A successful pilot project to ship cherries by rail is now being considered for expansion to other perishable produce. The new rail network will also help reduce dependency on the frequently blocked Jammu-Srinagar highway and provide an affordable alternative to volatile airfares during peak weather disruptions.
