Chenab bridge, world’s highest railway bridge, set to open this year! 10 facts & breathtaking photos of Indian Railways bridge

Chenab bridge latest update: When will the world's highest railway bridge, built by Indian Railways, over the Chenab river open? Indian Railways is readying a 100 day action plan for the new government and one important project on the cards is the completion of the Katra-Banihal section of the Udhampur - Srinagar - Baramulla Rail Link Project. The Chenab bridge is part of this stretch and is likely to open for trains this year. So what makes Chenab bridge, the world’s highest railway bridge, even more special? We take a look at some awe-inspiring facts and breathtaking photos of the Chenab bridge:

Chenab bridge height: The Chenab river bridge, built at a height of 359 metres above the river bed, is actually 35 metres taller than the Eiffel Tower in Paris! The Chenab bridge, situated in the demanding Himalayan landscape, stands as an engineering feat. It forms a crucial component of the railway connection linking Jammu & Kashmir with the rest of India.

Chenab bridge special facts: The bridge has 93 deck segments, each weighing around 85 tonnes. They have been launched simultaneously from both ends of the valley over the massive steel arch.

Chenab bridge features: It is made up of 17 spans and the length of the main arch is 467 metres, which is said to be the longest. According to Indian Railways, the joining of the 467-metre-long arch span was the most critical activity. Precision was to be maintained so that both ends of the arch meet with no error.

Chenab bridge milestone: The other major milestone was the golden joint of the deck. The 785-metre-long deck superstructure was launched from both ends and was finally joined over the arch in August 2022.

Chenab bridge earthquake and blast-proof! The Chenab Bridge is being built to withstand width speeds of 266 kilometres per hour. It will also be blast-proof and can withstand severe earthquakes as well.

Chenab bridge train speed: Built over a very challenging Himalayan terrain, the Chenab Bridge will have a design speed of 100 kilometres per hour for trains and a lifespan of 120 years.

Chenab bridge challenging terrain: It has faced delays in completion due to the rugged terrain of the Himalayas and harsh weather conditions. Constructed with steel arches, the bridge's foundation on the mountain slopes has been stabilized, an arduous task.

Chenab bridge cost: The ambitious project has been executed by Konkan Railway Corporation Limited at an estimated cost of Rs 1486 crore, says Indian Railways. Prior to the construction of the bridge, 26 kilometres of approach roads and a 400-metre-long tunnel was built to reach the site.

Chenab Bridge project execution: Numerous international agencies along with esteemed Indian institutions such as IITs, DRDO, and the Geological Survey of India have contributed to the execution of the Chenab bridge project.

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has earlier said that once the Chenab bridge is open, a Vande Bharat Express train will connect Kashmir to the rest of India. The 1.3 km long bridge forms a very important link in the 111 km stretch from Katra to Banihal. Indian Railways officials have told TOI that the Chenab bridge is complete and once the entire 111 km Katra-Banihal section is ready, the bridge will open for train operations.