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In pictures: India opens world's highest single-arch railway bridge in Kashmir

Cherylann Mollan
BBC News, Mumbai
Getty Images A view of newly constructed Chenab Bridge, World's highest Rail arch bridge of Indian Railways on Udampur- Srinagar-Baramulla-Rail link project during its media preview in Reasi district, on March 26, 2023 in Katra, India.Getty Images
The Chenab railway bridge is a scenic bridge 35m (114ft) higher than the Eiffel Tower

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated the world's highest single- arch railway bridge in Indian-administered Kashmir. The term "single-arch bridge" typically refers to a bridge with a single, continuous arch spanning between two supports.

The bridge will connect the valley region of Kashmir with the rest of the country by train for the very first time.

The showpiece infrastructure project, which is built over the Chenab river, is 35m (114ft) taller than the Eiffel Tower and took the Indian Railways more the 20 years to build.

It is part of a 272km (169 miles) all-weather railway line that will pass through Jammu, ultimately going all the way to the Kashmir valley.

Getty Images A view of the newly constructed Chenab Bridge on the Udampur-Srinagar-Baramulla-Rail link during its media preview in Reasi district, on March 26, 2023 in Katra, India.Getty Images
The bridge will connect Kashmir valley with the rest of India by train for the first time
Getty Images A view of newly constructed Chenab Bridge, World's highest Rail arch bridge of Indian Railways on Udampur- Srinagar-Baramulla-Rail link project during its media preview in Reasi district, on March 26, 2023 in Katra, India.Getty Images
Part of a 272km all-weather railway, the bridge connects Jammu to the Kashmir valley
EPA A Vande Bharat train is stationed at Nowgam Railway Station in Srinagar, the summer capital of Indian-administered Kashmir, 06 June 2025.EPA
On Friday, two passenger trains made use of the bridge for the first time
Getty Images School children gesture as they sit inside a coach of the Vande Bharat passenger train at the Srinagar railway station in Srinagar on June 6, 2025, ahead of the inauguration of the Kashmir rail link by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.Getty Images
School children gesture as they sit inside a coach of the Vande Bharat passenger train at the Srinagar railway station
Getty Images An Indian security personnel keeps watch outside the Srinagar railway station ahead of the inauguration of the Kashmir rail link by the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in Srinagar on June 6, 2025. Getty Images
A signboard welcoming Indian prime minister Narendra Modi for the inauguration ceremony on 6 June