Chenab Railway Bridge
Context: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Chenab Railway Bridge and the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Link (USBRL) on June 6, 2025. The Vande Bharat Express commenced services, reducing travel time between Katra and Srinagar to under 3 hours.
Important Pointers:
World’s Highest Railway Bridge: Located in Reasi district, Jammu & Kashmir, it stands 359 meters above the Chenab Riverbed, surpassing the Eiffel Tower by 35 meters.
Bridge Length & Structure: Spanning 1,315 meters, it comprises 17 spans, with the main arch extending 467 meters.
Design Speed & Lifespan: Engineered for a train speed of 100 km/h and a service life of 120 years.
Seismic & Wind Resistance: Built to withstand Zone-V earthquakes and wind speeds up to 266 km/h.
Blast-Proof Features: Constructed with 63mm thick blast-resistant steel and a 780-meter-long blast protection platform.
Strategic Importance: Forms a crucial link in the 111 km Katra–Banihal section of the Udhampur–Srinagar–Baramulla Railway Link (USBRL), enhancing connectivity to the Kashmir Valley.
Advanced Monitoring Systems: Equipped with 120 sensors and 150 servers in a state-of-the-art control room for real-time structural health monitoring.
Construction Challenges: Utilized 900-meter-high cable cranes and sophisticated Tekla software for structural detailing in challenging Himalayan terrain.