J&K’s towering progress, resilience outshines Eiffel’s romance
Sunny Dua
In a moment of monumental pride, history will be etched into the mighty mountains of Jammu and Kashmir on April 19, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates the world’s highest railway bridge over the Chenab River- a feat of engineering that not only dwarfs the Eiffel Tower in height but a heartbeat of hope, a lifeline of steel and dreams that stitches the breathtaking valleys of Baramulla with Rameshwaram in spirit, strength, and steel. As the tricolor flutters against the Himalayan breeze, Jammu and Kashmir will blink boldly on the highest railway map of the world, a testament to human grit and a nation’s unyielding spirit.
For decades, Kashmir’s ethereal beauty and resilient people have been cloaked in isolation, tethered to the mainland only by treacherous roads that crumble under snow, landslides, and time. Now, with the Chenab Bridge soaring 359 meters above the riverbed – 35 meters taller than the iconic Eiffel Tower – this marvel promises round-the-year connectivity. No longer will blizzards sever ties or monsoons stall journeys. The bridge, forged with 28,660 tonnes of steel and 66,000 cubic meters of concrete, stands as a colossus, dwarfing Paris’s iron lady not just in height but in purpose.
Where the Eiffel Tower is a symbol of romance, the Chenab Bridge is a lifeline of progress, resilience, and unity.This architectural giant, stretching 1,315 meters across the Chenab River gorge between Bakkal and Kauri in Reasi district, wasn’t born easily. The Indian Railways, alongside the Konkan Railway Corporation, waged a 20-year battle against nature’s fury-seismic zones, fierce winds, and rugged terrain. To even reach the site, engineers carved a 26-kilometer approach road and a 400-meter tunnel, a herculean effort to lay the foundation of this steel symphony.
Completed in August 2022 after two decades of labor, this bridge embodies India’s relentless pursuit of the impossible, connecting Kashmir to the nation’s rail grid after a journey that began in the 1970s and reached Baramulla in phases by 2009.
The beneficiaries of this marvel are as vast as the land it serves. The apple growers of Shopian, the dry fruit traders of Anantnag, the tourists in Gulmarg and Pahalgam, and the pilgrims visiting Katra and Amarnath – all will now travel with ease, dignity, and speed.
Traders, long burdened by costly and delayed road transport, will see goods flow swiftly, their livelihoods unshackled. Fruit growers, whose apples and cherries define Kashmir’s soul, will reach markets faster, their harvests fresher and profits sweeter.Harsh terrain, complex geology, and political uncertainty made every inch a battle. But with this bridge, that long and painful wait has ended – Kashmir is no longer at the edge.
Tourists, drawn to the valley’s serenity, and pilgrims bound for Katra’s Vaishno Devi shrine or the sacred Amarnath cave of Lord Shiva, will travel with ease, their prayers now carried on rails. And for the Indian Army, guarding this strategic frontier, the bridge is a logistical boon, ensuring supplies and mobility in a region where every moment counts.This isn’t just a bridge but a beacon of progress. As PM Modi inaugurates it, we stand at a crossroads of history. In the same month, he unveiled the Pamban Bridge in Rameshwaram, India’s first vertical-lift railway bridge, a 2.05-kilometer marvel that lifts 22 meters to let ships pass, slashing travel time to the island from 30 minutes to under five.
The old Pamban, a colonial relic akin to London’s Tower Bridge with its bascule grace, served faithfully for over a century. But the new bridge, like its Chenab cousin, heralds a modern era-faster, stronger, and smarter, boosting trade and pilgrimage to Tamil Nadu’s shores. Together, these twin triumphs weave a thread from Baramulla to Rameshwaram, Kashmir to Kanyakumari, binding India’s spiritual and geographical extremes in steel and ambition.
The Chenab Bridge’s importance transcends mere connectivity. For students, it’s a gateway to education beyond the valley’s borders; for patients, a quicker route to hospitals; for families, a reunion without the dread of blocked highways. The pilgrimage to Katra, already a scenic drive through winding roads and lush hills, becomes even more enchanting as it stretches to Reasi and the bridge town. Here, amidst the serene hum of the Chenab River, the magnificent steel structure rises-a sight so awe-inspiring it demands to be shared with the world.
We humbly urge Prime Minister Modi to transform this engineering wonder into a tourist haven. Viewing platforms with restaurants and civic amenities at both ends – Bakkal and Kauri – could let visitors marvel at its grandeur, much like the Eiffel Tower draws millions so that it can become a global tourist attraction, much like the Golden Gate or Millau Viaduct. Let the world witness what India can achieve when it dares to dream.Let it not just be a passage but a destination, an engineering pilgrimage of its own.
India’s railway odyssey to Kashmir has been a saga of perseverance. From the first tracks laid in Jammu in the 1970s to Baramulla’s connection in 2009, it took over 50 years to breach the Pir Panjal’s embrace. Now, with the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) complete, the Chenab Bridge crowns this epic, linking Kashmir to Kanyakumari’s southern tip. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision, India strides forward-bridges rise, roads widen, and dreams take flight. This rail link isn’t just steel and stone; it’s a lifeline for a nation on the move, a promise that no corner is too remote, no peak too high.
As the train’s whistle echoes across the Chenab on April 19, it will carry more than passengers-it will carry pride, progress, and the prayers of a united India. From the snowy caves of Amarnath to the sandy shores of Rameshwaram, Modi’s twin inaugurations this month mark a new dawn. The Chenab Bridge, with its towering steel heart, stands taller than the Eiffel Tower not just in height, but in the hope it ignites.
Let it shine, let it soar, and let the world come to witness India’s unbreakable spirit.On April 19, the mountains of Kashmir will echo with the whistle of progress, and the bridge of dreams will finally open its arms to the nation.India is rising and Kashmir, finally, rides with her. This bridge will bring with it endless opportunities, relief and resilience which the world will witness when Vande Bharat will move on its tracks making India proud of its engineers, workers, architects, structural designers, security personnel and most important visionaries are turning dreams into realities.
(The writer is senior journalist)
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