About
The Chenab Bridge is the world's tallest railway arch bridge, with its deck rising 359 m above the Chenab river — 35 m taller than the Eiffel Tower. The 467 m main arch span is the longest steel arch railway bridge in the world.
Construction began in 2004 but was halted in 2008 over slope-stability concerns; resumed in 2010 with a redesigned anchorage system using 100 m rock anchors for the abutments. The arch was launched using a cable-crane system across the gorge — a method imported from Korean shipyard practice with consultant Ultra Engineering. The deck was incrementally launched from both abutments, joining at the crown in 2021.
The bridge is a critical component of the USBRL project, providing the first all-weather rail connectivity to the Kashmir Valley. Designed for blast resistance (DRDO consultations) and 260 km/h wind, with a 120-year design life.
Cross-references
9Indian Standards, IRC codes, and InfraLens knowledge articles that bear on this project's design and execution. Each link opens the relevant reference page.
Notable features
- 359 m above Chenab river — tallest railway arch bridge globally
- 467 m main arch span — longest steel arch railway span globally
- Designed for 266 km/h wind, blast resistance, seismic zone V
- 120-year design life vs the Indian Railways norm of 100 years
- Arch fabricated from ~28,000 tonnes of structural steel