PIONEER NEWS SERVICE
Accompanied by the Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and chief minister Omar Abdullah, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the world’s highest railway bridge over the Chenab river which has been built at a cost of Rs 1,486 crore. The project took more than eight years to complete. Though its construction was approved in 2002 the work started only in 2017. After the inauguration, Modi walked on the bridge holding the tricolour. He also inaugurated India’s first cable-stayed rail bridge over the river Anji. Notably, he travelled in a rail engine coach to reach the inauguration spot.
Chenab rail bridge, situated at a height of 359 metres above the river and 35 metres higher than the iconic Eiffel Tower in Paris, is considered to be an architectural marvel. The 1,315-metre-long steel arch bridge has been engineered to withstand seismic and wind conditions, the Railway officials said.
