SRINAGAR( Metro Rail News): Minister of Railways, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, conducted the first trial run on a track-mounted vehicle on Chenab railway bridge which is the world’s highest railway bridge over the Chenab River in J&K’s Reasi district.
The bridge is a part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link project and is anticipated as one of the most impressive train journeys in the future. At a towering height of 359 m (1,178 ft) above the Chenab River, the arch bridge surpasses the height of Paris’ iconic Eiffel Tower by 35 meters.
Marking a significant milestone in the completion of the Udhampur-Katra-Srinagar-Baramulla rail link, the smooth trial run of the track-mounted vehicle clears the path for the Valley to be linked with the rest of the country.
The successful completion of the project will not only enhance tourism in the region but also offer a reliable and secure mode of transportation for people commuting to and from the Kashmir Valley, along with creating new prospects for economic growth in the area.
During his official inspection visit to the Chenab Bridge, Mr. Vaishnaw was accompanied by Ashutosh Gangal, General Manager of Northern Railway, and other senior officials from the USBRL Project and Northern Railway.
“Hon’ble PM Shri Narendra Modi has put a laser-sharp focus on the development of the country, the Chenab Bridge and tunnels are a few examples that will become the lifeline of Jammu and Kashmir”, stated the Minister.
Building the highest railway bridge was the most significant civil-engineering obstacle encountered by any railway project in India in recent history. Over the last 3 years, engineers have been building the arch with the help of 2 mammoth cable cranes installed on both banks of the Chenab — the Kauri end and the Bakkal end. The Chenab Bridge is expected to become one of the most iconic landmarks of the Indian Railways.