India builds world's highest railway bridge

Chenab Railway Bridge (Photo: Getty).

After decades of construction, India's Chenab elevated railway bridge will be operational by December this year or January 2024, the Indian Railways Ministry said.

The world's highest railway bridge, over 1,300 metres long, is part of a project to increase access to the Kashmir Valley through India's rail network. In addition to the Chenab Bridge, the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla railway line will include India's longest railway tunnel and the country's first cable-stayed railway bridge.

For Prime Minister Narendra Modi, investing in infrastructure like the Chenab Bridge and the rail network in general can be seen as an effective tool for social inclusion, expanding political influence, and connecting remote areas with major cities.

“The Chenab Bridge and the connectivity it represents will be promoted by India as a new development for the region,” said Michael Kugelman, director of the South Asia Institute at the Wilson Center.

Experts say linking Kashmir with the rest of India by train will especially boost the region's industries and agriculture by enabling all-weather rail connectivity between the valley and the rest of India.

Previously, the only route connecting Indian-controlled Kashmir with the rest of the South Asian country was the 300km Srinagar-Jammu highway, which was often closed for part of the winter and was also prone to accidents.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/the-gioi/an-do-xay-cau-duong-sat-cao-nhat-the-gioi-20230503083837808.htm