PM Modi Inaugurates World’s Tallest Railway Bridge in Jammu & Kashmir

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday officially inaugurated the Chenab Railway Bridge, the tallest rail bridge in the world, marking a major step in India’s infrastructure development. The bridge, built over the Chenab River, is a key part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL), which now connects Kashmir to the rest of India by rail.

This was PM Modi’s first visit to Jammu and Kashmir after Operation Sindoor, a military response to the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people in April. After arriving at the Air Force Station in Udhampur, he took a helicopter to the bridge site for the grand inauguration.

Along with the Chenab bridge, PM Modi also inaugurated India’s first cable-stayed railway bridge, the Anji Bridge and flagged off two Vande Bharat Express trains between Katra and Srinagar, officially launching full operation of the 272-km USBRL project.

The USBRL project, costing around ₹43,780 crore, includes 36 tunnels (spanning 119 km) and 943 bridges, ensuring year-round rail connectivity to Kashmir. PM Modi said this link would boost development, improve daily life, and bring economic opportunities to the region.

In addition to railway projects, PM Modi also launched several road and flyover projects to improve traffic and transport in border areas. These include widening of the Rafiabad-Kupwara road, the Shopian bypass, and new flyovers in Srinagar at Sangrama and Bemina junctions.