Chenab Bridge – World’s Highest Rail Bridge

March 27, 2023

The Indian Railways is constructing the world’s highest railway bridge in the challenging terrain of the Himalayas, which is expected to be completed in the coming months. The Chenab Bridge, an engineering marvel, is a part of the strategically important Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramullah (USBRL) railway link that will connect Jammu & Kashmir to the rest of India.

Impressive Statistics of the Chenab Bridge

The Chenab Bridge is 35 meters taller than the Eiffel Tower in Paris, making it the world’s highest rail bridge. The 1.3 km long bridge has a design speed of 100 kmph for trains and a lifespan of 120 years.

Completion and Use of the Bridge

The USBRL project is expected to be completed by December 2023 or January 2024. The Vande Bharat Express train will run over the Chenab bridge, and a maintenance facility for Vande Bharat trains will be established in Badgam. The new Vande Metro, developed for short-distance inter-city travel, will also run between Jammu and Srinagar.

The Significance of the Bridge

The 111 km stretch from Katra to Banihal is essential, and the 1.3 km long Chenab Bridge is a crucial part of this stretch. Once completed, the entire USBRL Railway project will provide all-weather connectivity and join Jammu and Kashmir to the rest of India.

Expertise and Cost of the Project

Several international agencies and premier Indian institutes, such as IIT Roorkee, IIT Delhi, DRDO, and Geological Survey of India, are providing their expertise in planning and implementing the bridge project. The ambitious project is being executed by Konkan Railway Corporation Ltd. at an estimated cost of Rs. 1486 crore.

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