Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate the Chenab Rail Bridge and launch train services to Kashmir on Friday. The Chenab Bridge, known as the world’s highest railway bridge, towers 359 meters above the riverbed in the Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir. It forms a key part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Link (USBRL), a project that has taken decades to come to fruition. Along with the bridge inauguration, the Prime Minister will also flag off the Vande Bharat Express train services from Katra to Baramulla and back, making it the first direct rail link connecting Kashmir with the rest of the country through such a high-speed service. The entire region is currently under heightened security in preparation for the visit. This marks Modi’s first trip to Jammu and Kashmir since the recent Operation Sindoor. Authorities have reviewed every detail of the visit, with Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha chairing a high-level meeting attended by senior administrative and police officers. District administrations have been instructed to ensure the safety of both the visiting delegation and the general public. The Jammu-Srinagar railway line, in particular, is under enhanced surveillance, and security forces are deployed at all key locations along the route. The Chenab Bridge itself is a feat of engineering that has challenged and eventually overcome the limitations imposed by difficult terrain and seismic vulnerability. Built using over 25,000 tons of steel, the bridge is designed to resist extreme weather conditions, high-velocity winds, and earthquakes of considerable magnitude. The Vande Bharat Express train, also being inaugurated on the same day, has been customised for operations in Kashmir’s cold climate. It includes heating elements in the windshield, warm air circulation in passenger coaches, and anti-freeze mechanisms in toilet systems and water tanks. The train successfully crossed both the Anji Khad Bridge, India’s first cable-stayed rail bridge, and the Chenab Bridge during its trial run earlier this year. The completion of the USBRL project and the introduction of a modern train service are expected to reshape mobility within Jammu and Kashmir. Direct rail connectivity will reduce dependence on road travel, which often remains unpredictable due to landslides and snow blockades. Faster and more reliable transport links will also enhance tourism, particularly for pilgrims heading to the Vaishno Devi shrine. With Katra being a major transit point for religious travel, the rail line is poised to serve as a steady conduit for increased visitor movement. Local economies along the route stand to benefit through greater customer inflow to small businesses, hotels, and restaurants. The formal dedication of the Chenab Bridge and the inauguration of train service to Kashmir come at a time of increased focus on regional development. With a secure and well-connected transport network in place, this new phase opens up possibilities for better movement and access across Jammu and Kashmir. While many will focus on the engineering brilliance of the bridge or the modern features of the Vande Bharat train, the deeper story lies in the growing accessibility and integration of the Valley into the national framework.
Kashmir Connected
