On June 6, 2025, PM Modi announces that he inaugurated major infrastructure projects totaling ₹46,000 crores in Jammu and Kashmir, focused on improving connectivity in the region and delivering economic opportunities and boosting tourism.
This bulk of the projects being inaugurated is the Chenab Rail Bridge, the highest railway arch bridge in the world at a staggering 359 meters above the Chenab River. This bridge’s height exceeds that of the Eiffel Tower and is designed to withstand seismic and extreme weather.
The Chenab Bridge is the most important part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL), which provides all-weather rail connectivity between Jammu and Srinagar.
Another notable “first” is the Indian’s first cable-stayed railway bridge, the Anji Bridge. Located in a participating area, it will greatly improve travel between Jammu and Srinagar.
The USBRL Project: Enhancing Rail Connectivity
The Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project is 272 km long and involves the construction of 36 tunnels and 943 bridges. This railway project will pave the way for turnaround travel and other forms of connectivity to and from Kashmir. Kashmir is now part of India with a travelling time of 272 km reduced.
PM Modi will also launch Vande Bharat Express trains between Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra and Srinagar. These high-speed trains will:
Enhance spiritual tourism by allowing easier access to places of worship.
Generate livelihood support by increasing ease of travel for local people and for business.
Improve travel time and efficiency between Katra and Srinagar to approximately three hours instead of ten.
Additional Projects that are Being Launched
In addition to rail connectivity PM Modi will also lay flat the foundation stone for road project initiatives. They include:
Widen NH-701 from Rafiabad to Kupwara.
Construct the Shopian bypass on NH-444.
Construct flyovers (2 of them) in Srinagar to ease traffic flow.
Such infrastructure projects represent the history of the development of Jammu and Kashmir. By offering connectivity, tourism, and economic connectivity they will respectively impact millions of the ‘civilians’ living in Jammu and Kashmir.
ALSO READ: PM Modi will inaugurate vande Bharat train tomorrow: Route, Fares and more
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