In a historic move, the railways has connected the two ends of the main arch of the world's highest bridge on the Chenab river in Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi district which will provide direct connectivity to Kashmir Valley.
The Northern Railway will be completing the most difficult 111-kilometre long section of the UdhampurSrinagar-Baramulla rail link by December 2022 which would connect Kashmir to the rest of India through the railway network, officials said.
The iconic bridge will soar 359 metres above the bed of the river and will be 30 metres higher than the iconic Eiffel Tower in Paris. Railway officials termed the development a "historic" one. Union Railway Minister Piyush Goyal had recently shared the news on Twitter.
"In a historic moment, the arch bottom of the Chenab bridge has been completed today. Next, the arch upper of the engineering marvel in making will be completed," official added. The minister, who also shared a video of the achievement, had said it was set to become the world's highest railway bridge. Facing grave challenges and life-threatening hazards posed by rough terrain and geological thrust zones, engineers and workers are toiling overtime to meet the last extended deadline set for completion of the world's highest railway bridge connecting Kashmir with the rest of the country.
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