Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday inaugurated the world’s highest railway bridge in India-administered Kashmir, weeks after a deadly militant attack in the region triggered a brief military standoff with Pakistan.
The arched Chenab Bridge, standing 359 metres above the Chenab River—taller than the Eiffel Tower—is a key part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link. The $160 million project spans 1,315 metres and establishes the first railway connection between Kashmir and the rest of India.
The inauguration marks Modi’s first visit to the region since April’s cross-border clashes. His government has heavily invested in infrastructure to integrate the Muslim-majority region with the rest of the country, following the 2019 revocation of Jammu and Kashmir’s autonomous status.
The new railway link is part of a broader national vision to transform India’s transportation network and stimulate economic growth, though concerns remain over environmental impacts from heavy construction in the fragile Himalayan terrain.
The arched Chenab Bridge, standing 359 metres above the Chenab River—taller than the Eiffel Tower—is a key part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link. The $160 million project spans 1,315 metres and establishes the first railway connection between Kashmir and the rest of India.
The inauguration marks Modi’s first visit to the region since April’s cross-border clashes. His government has heavily invested in infrastructure to integrate the Muslim-majority region with the rest of the country, following the 2019 revocation of Jammu and Kashmir’s autonomous status.
The new railway link is part of a broader national vision to transform India’s transportation network and stimulate economic growth, though concerns remain over environmental impacts from heavy construction in the fragile Himalayan terrain.
