First J&K visit after Pahalgam incident: PM Modi inaugurates Chenab, Anji bridge; flags off Vande Bharat train; top developments

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday inaugurated two major railway infrastructure projects in Jammu and Kashmir — the Chenab bridge, the world’s highest railway arch bridge, and the Anji bridge, India’s first cable-stayed rail bridge.

Waving the national flag at the Chenab bridge site in Reasi district, the Prime Minister called the structure a symbol of India's engineering capabilities. The arch bridge stands 359 metres above the riverbed and spans 1,315 metres, designed to endure seismic and wind challenges.

Also present at the event were Jammu and Kashmir Lt governor Manoj Sinha, chief minister Omar Abdullah, and railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.

PM Modi also inaugurated the Anji bridge, located over the Anji Khad. The structure is India’s first cable-stayed railway bridge and, along with the Chenab bridge, forms a critical part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL). The USBRL project connects the Kashmir Valley with the rest of India by rail for the first time.

Later in the day, the Prime Minister flagged off two Vande Bharat Express trains from Katra to Srinagar. Before the flag-off, he interacted with schoolchildren onboard and spoke with railway staff.


The new trains will cut travel time between Katra and Srinagar from the current 6–7 hours by road to just around 3 hours. Officials said the trains are equipped to operate in the cold climate of the Kashmir Valley and will traverse the newly inaugurated bridges.

The USBRL project, built at a cost of around Rs 43,780 crore, includes 272 km of rail line, 36 tunnels spanning 119 km, and 943 bridges, providing all-weather, round-the-year connectivity. It is expected to improve mobility, promote tourism, and facilitate economic growth in the region.Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Eid wishes, messages, and quotes !