PM Modi Unveils ₹46,000 Cr Projects in J&K, Including Chenab Bridge & Vande Bharat Trains

Current Context: Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched and inaugurated multiple development projects worth ₹46,000 crore in Jammu and Kashmir on June 6, 2025.

Key Highlights:

• Chenab Bridge: The world’s highest railway arch bridge, standing 359 meters above the Chenab River, part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project.
• Anji Bridge: India’s first cable-stayed rail bridge, spanning 473 meters, designed for seismic resilience.
• Vande Bharat Trains: Two new trains connecting Katra to Srinagar, reducing travel time to three hours.
• Infrastructure Projects: Road expansions, flyovers, and the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence in Katra, worth ₹350 crore.

Question:

Q.1 The Chenab Bridge, inaugurated by PM Modi in June 2025, is recognized as:
a) The world’s highest railway arch bridge
b) India’s longest rail bridge
c) Asia’s longest suspension bridge
d) India’s first underwater rail bridge

Answer: a) The Chenab Bridge stands 359 meters above the Chenab River, making it the highest railway arch bridge in the world.