Chenab Rail Bridge

Height &amp; Length: Deck height: 359 m above the riverbed—taller than the Eiffel Tower (~324 m). Total length: 1,315 m; main arch span: 467 m—the largest arch span in India.
Design &amp; Materials: Type: Steel–concrete deck arch bridge. Steel Usage: ~28,000 tonnes; Concrete: ~66,000 m³ for piers, arch ribs, and deck. Prefabrication: 93 deck segments assembled on-site using specialized jigs.

June 7, 2025

Current Context: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Chenab Rail Bridge—the world’s highest railway arch bridge at 359 m above the Chenab River—completing the 272 km Udhampur–Srinagar–Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) and finally integrating the Kashmir Valley with India’s national railway network.

About Bridge

Height & Length:
- Deck height: 359 m above the riverbed—taller than the Eiffel Tower (~324 m).
- Total length: 1,315 m; main arch span: 467 m—the largest arch span in India.
Design & Materials:
- Type: Steel–concrete deck arch bridge.
- Steel Usage: ~28,000 tonnes; Concrete: ~66,000 m³ for piers, arch ribs, and deck.
- Prefabrication: 93 deck segments assembled on-site using specialized jigs.

About Chenab River

Originates in the Lahaul and Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh.
Flows southwest through the Kishtwar region, then enters Jammu and Kashmir before merging with the Jhelum River.

Geographical Significance:
- Cuts through the Greater Himalayan range, creating deep gorges—one of which is spanned by the Chenab Rail Bridge.
- Waters utilized for irrigation, fisheries, and several hydropower projects (e.g., Salal, Baglihar).