Finance
On Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi opened the Chenab railway bridge, the world’s highest rail bridge, marking a historic event in India’s infrastructure development.
PM Modi landed at the Air Force station in Udhampur and flew to the Chenab bridge site to formally unveil the marvel. This is his first visit to Jammu and Kashmir since Operation Sindoor, a military raid across the border in response to the Pahalgam terror incident in April, which killed 26 people.
Modi also met with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, and Union Minister Jitendra Singh while visiting an exhibition about the USBRL project.
During the visit, PM Modi also interacted with engineers, workers, and officials who were involved in the execution of the ambitious project that connects Kashmir to the rest of India by rail.
The famous structure, built across the Chenab River, is part of the USBRL project, which has now connected Kashmir to the rest of the country via rail.
Following the completion of the Chenab railway bridge, Modi plans to inaugurate India’s first cable-stayed Anji bridge, which will improve regional connections.
He will also flag off two Vande Bharat Express trains between Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra and Srinagar, completing the entire 272-kilometre USBRL stretch.
Chenab bridge costs ₹43,780 crore. Rail Link
The world’s highest railway arch bridge is 359 meters above the riverbank, 35 meters taller than the Eiffel Tower.
The USBRL project costs ₹43,780 crore and includes 36 tunnels and 943 bridges to provide all-weather rail connectivity between Kashmir and the rest of India. The completion of this massive project is viewed as a watershed moment for regional growth and national integration.
The prime minister said the link would “transform mobility, bring prosperity and improve the quality of life for the people of Kashmir.”
Focus on road and traffic infrastructure
Modi will also inaugurate a number of road and flyover projects to facilitate transportation across borders. These include the Rafiabad-Kupwara road widening on NH-701, the Shopian bypass on NH-444, and flyovers at the Sangrama and Bemina junctions in Srinagar.
Source: HT
