PM Modi to inaugurate world’s highest Chenab Rail Bridge, Anji Bridge during Jammu visit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate two record-setting railway bridges in Jammu and Kashmir on Friday—Chenab Bridge, the highest railway arch bridge in the world, and Anji Bridge, India’s first cable-stayed rail bridge. The inauguration marks a key phase in the ambitious Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project aimed at providing seamless all-weather rail connectivity to the Kashmir Valley.

A day before the inauguration, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah visited the bridges and shared stunning visuals of the Chenab Bridge standing 359 metres above the river and the Anji Bridge viewed from a helicopter. He called the event a “landmark day” for J&K, highlighting its significance in connecting the region to the rest of the country.

The ₹1,486 crore Chenab Bridge is a 1,315-metre-long steel structure designed to endure extreme terrain, seismic activity, and winds of up to 260 kmph. The Anji Bridge is a vital part of the ₹43,780 crore USBRL project and is the first of its kind in Indian Railways. Together, the bridges are expected to reduce the travel time between Katra and Srinagar by two to three hours.

Alongside the bridge inaugurations, PM Modi will flag off two Vande Bharat Express trains and launch several developmental initiatives worth over ₹46,000 crore, including road projects, flyovers, and the foundation stone for the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence—Reasi district’s first medical college.