Satellite images have documented the decade-long construction of the Chenab Rail Bridge, the tallest railway arch bridge in the world. The earliest images from 2017 showed initial work on mountain peaks above the Chenab River in Dharot. By 2022, the 1,315-metre-long steel arch neared completion. The February 2025 satellite view revealed the finished bridge, built using 25,000 tonnes of metal—three times more than the Eiffel Tower.
A Key Link in Kashmir’s Connectivity
This bridge is a critical part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL), designed to provide uninterrupted rail connectivity between the Kashmir Valley and the rest of India. Its location in the Himalayas, known for seismic instability, made the project extremely complex.
Engineering Challenges in a Seismic Zone
Due to its location in a high seismic zone, Indian Railways carried out extensive geological and structural assessments. The bridge design was revised multiple times to withstand wind speeds up to 266 km/h. IIT Roorkee modelled earthquake responses to ensure resilience against tremors similar to the 7.7 magnitude Gujarat earthquake in 2001.
Logistics and Safety Measures
Transporting materials to the remote site posed one of the biggest challenges. Built by Afcons Infrastructure (part of the Shapoorji Pallonji Group), the bridge meets high safety standards. It is designed to stay intact even if one of its 14 pillars collapses or if subjected to a 40 kg TNT blast. Even in such scenarios, train operations would continue, though at reduced speeds.
