Kashmir finally gets rail access
PM Modi Inaugurates Chenab Bridge Linking Kashmir to India’s Rail Network: On June 6, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated a monumental project—the Chenab Railway Bridge in Jammu and Kashmir. It is now the highest railway arch bridge in the world, towering at 359 meters, even higher than the Eiffel Tower. The bridge marks the final link in the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL), a dream that took 42 years to complete.
This isn’t just a bridge. It’s a lifeline for the Kashmir Valley. With it, all-weather rail connectivity is now possible for the first time. For residents, it means faster travel, better logistics, and more job opportunities. For the country, it’s a strategic link to a sensitive border region.
Overcoming Himalayan challenges
Constructing this bridge wasn’t easy. The terrain is part of the Himalayas, known for extreme weather, unstable soil, and seismic risks. Yet, Indian engineers pulled it off. The Chenab Bridge spans 467 meters, built with steel and concrete, and can withstand high wind speeds and earthquakes.
The USBRL route is 272 km long, and features 36 tunnels and 943 bridges. Earlier, segments like Qazigund to Baramulla and Udhampur to Katra were completed. But it was this last stretch—the most difficult—that was finally conquered.
Vande Bharat now reaches Kashmir
To boost the benefits of this new connection, Vande Bharat trains will soon run between Katra and Srinagar. The journey, which earlier took over 5 hours, will now take just around 3 hours. This move is expected to encourage tourism, especially pilgrimages to places like Vaishno Devi.
Major boost to healthcare
Alongside the bridge, PM Modi also laid the foundation for the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence. Located in Katra, this ₹350 crore project will be the first medical college in the region. It aims to bring quality healthcare and education closer to remote districts like Reasi.
Strategic and symbolic value
This bridge isn’t just about railways. It’s a symbol of integration. It links remote Himalayan areas with mainland India. It helps in national security by ensuring smoother troop and logistics movement. And it strengthens disaster management and emergency services in the valley.
Static Usthadian Current Affairs Table
| Topic | Details |
| Chenab Bridge Height | 359 meters (taller than Eiffel Tower) |
| Chenab Bridge Length | 1,315 meters |
| USBRL Project | 272 km from Udhampur to Baramulla |
| First Segment Completed | Qazigund-Baramulla (2009) |
| Latest Segment Completed | Banihal-Sangaldan & Chenab Bridge (2024-25) |
| Bridge Type | Steel Arch, earthquake and wind-resistant |
| Important River | Built over Chenab, a tributary of the Indus River |
| Anji Bridge | India’s first cable-stayed railway bridge |
| Medical College | Vaishno Devi Institute, ₹350 crore, Reasi district |
| New Rail Service | Vande Bharat between Katra and Srinagar |
| Total Development Projects | ₹46,000 crore |
| Static GK Bridge Fact | Chenab Bridge is now the highest railway bridge in the world |
| Other Famous Indian Bridges | Howrah Bridge (Kolkata), Pamban Bridge (Rameswaram) |
