PM Modi inaugurates world’s highest rail bridge: Chenab Rail Bridge soars above Eiffel Tower in historic feat

India celebrated the inauguration of the world’s highest rail bridge, the Chenab Rail Bridge, on June 6, 2025, a significant milestone in terms of both infrastructure and national integration. Spanning 1,315 metres over the Chenab River in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi district, the bridge rises 359 metres above the riverbed, 47 metres higher than the Eiffel Tower. At the inauguration ceremony, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hoisted the national flag over the bridge, symbolising a new era of connectivity and resilience for the region.

In the words of Prime Minister Modi, the bridge stands as a “symbol of national unity and Indian resilience,”

Engineering marvel in the Himalayas

It is one of the key components of the Rs 43,780 crore Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project, which aims to connect Kashmir to India’s larger rail network. To last in the harsh Himalayan environment, the bridge was built with 30,000 tonnes of steel and is designed to withstand seismic activity and wind gusts of up to 266 km/h.

The isolated location of the area and the steep slopes posed major logistical hurdles for the project. Construction teams often used horses and mules to transport supplies to the work site, demonstrating the tenacity and creativity required to achieve this goal.

A vision realised after 130 years

The idea of ​​building a railway line to connect Kashmir with the rest of India was first conceived by Maharaja Pratap Singh in 1892. Fulfilling a long-standing desire for better connectivity and local growth, the idea has been realised more than a century later.

A symbol of unity and progress

When compared to the incident when BJP workers hoisted the tricolour at Srinagar’s Lal Chowk in 1992, Prime Minister Modi’s act of hoisting the national flag on the Chenab Bridge is deeply touching. The move demonstrates the government’s commitment to peace and development in Jammu and Kashmir as well as promoting national integration.

In addition to showcasing India’s engineering prowess, the inauguration of the bridge is a well-planned move to promote regional tourism and economic development. It is envisaged that the bridge will boost trade, increase accessibility and improve the quality of life of the locals, providing all-weather transport connectivity.

An important step towards Kashmir’s physical and symbolic integration with the rest of India has been taken with the completion of the Chenab Rail Bridge. The promise of development, solidarity, and a better future for the area is carried by trains as they start to travel through this feat of engineering. The area’s isolated location and steep slopes presented major logistical obstacles for the project.

A new chapter for Kashmir

The completion of the Chenab Rail Bridge marks a significant step towards the physical and symbolic integration of Kashmir with the rest of India. The commencement of train services through this feat of engineering promises development, integration and a better future for the region.

According to Prime Minister Modi, the bridge is a “symbol of national unity and Indian resilience”, symbolising the country’s unwavering commitment to progress and peace.

Kashmir , When compared to the incident when BJP workers hoisted the tricolour at Lal Chowk in Srinagar, Prime Minister Modi’s act of hoisting the national flag on the Chenab Bridge is deeply touching. This step is an example of the government’s relentless work towards peace and development in Jammu and Kashmir as well as promoting national integration.

With the completion of the Chenab Rail Bridge, a significant step has been taken towards the physical and symbolic integration of Kashmir with the rest of India. As the trains start travelling through this feat of engineering, it carries the promise of development, integration and a better future for the region.