PM Modi Inaugurates World's Highest Chenab Railway Bridge in J&K
Author: Dr. Jipson LawranceReporter: സ്വന്തം ലേഖകൻ 06-Jun-2025
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Jammu, June 6 – In a landmark event symbolizing engineering prowess and national integration, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday inaugurated several transformative railway projects in Jammu and Kashmir, including the world’s tallest railway bridge over the Chenab River and the country’s first cable-stayed railway bridge at Anji Khad.
The Prime Minister also flagged off the much-anticipated Vande Bharat Express from Katra to Srinagar, marking a major milestone in improving rail connectivity in the Union Territory. The state-of-the-art train, designed to endure the region’s extreme weather conditions, was flagged off at the Katra railway station amidst cheers of "Bharat Mata Ki Jai" from the gathered crowd.
PM Modi engaged with schoolchildren aboard the train before waving the green flag, taking a moment to listen to their experiences and excitement about the new train service. The Prime Minister emphasized how such initiatives symbolize the promise of a brighter future for the youth of Jammu and Kashmir.
Earlier in the day, PM Modi visited the iconic Chenab Railway Bridge — now officially the tallest railway bridge in the world, standing at a staggering 359 meters above the riverbed, surpassing the height of the Eiffel Tower by 35 meters. The Prime Minister toured a photo exhibition detailing the immense technical and environmental challenges faced during the bridge’s construction. He praised the engineers and workers who, against formidable odds posed by terrain and weather, made the ambitious project a reality.
Speaking to a large public gathering, PM Modi described the newly inaugurated bridges and railway lines as symbols of a stronger and more connected Jammu and Kashmir. “These are not just infrastructural projects; they are emblems of a new era of development and integration for the region,” he said. “Our government accepted the challenges of this harsh terrain because we believe in turning the impossible into the possible.”
Also accompanying the Prime Minister were Lt Governor Manoj Sinha, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister of State in the PMO Dr. Jitendra Singh, and J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. Together, they inspected the engineering marvels and celebrated the successful completion of projects that had long been seen as daunting undertakings.
The Prime Minister walked across the newly constructed Anji Khad Bridge, a first-of-its-kind cable-stayed railway bridge in India, and later travelled across it in a railway coach while holding the national flag — a moment rich in symbolism and national pride.
PM Modi was also briefed by Railway Board CEO Satish Kumar on the modernization and safety measures incorporated in the new railway network, including the fully mechanised maintenance system of the Katra-Srinagar railway track — the first of its kind in India.
In addition to inaugurating these critical projects, the Prime Minister laid the foundation stone for a series of developmental schemes worth ₹46,000 crore, reaffirming the Centre’s commitment to transforming the infrastructural landscape of Jammu and Kashmir.
Through the combined inauguration of modern railway lines, world-class train services, and record-setting bridges, Friday’s events signal a new chapter in the economic and social development of the region — one that promises greater accessibility, safety, and growth for the people of Jammu and Kashmir.