Chenab rail bridge to offer bungee jumping

New Delhi, May 8

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India can soon boast about the world’s tallest railway bridge, the construction of which is on in full swing over the Chenab river in the difficult terrain of Jammu and Kashmir. Also, the Chenab rail bridge, the crowning glory of the Kashmir rail link project, is expected to host bungee jumping and many other exciting sport events.

There will be sightseeing points, trekking routes and hotels for tourists in the difficult terrain, railway officials said. The 1.315-km rail bridge at the height of 359 metres over the Chenab, 35 metres taller than the Eiffel Tower, will have two stations at its both ends. The area was inaccessible earlier and the Railways will have to make 22 km of roads as access path for the construction of the bridge.

“We are in discussion with the Jammu and Kashmir Government for the development of the area as an adventure-tourist spot,” said Sanjay Gupta, Konkan Railway chairman and managing director. Konkan Railway is executing the Rs 12,000-crore Chenab rail bridge project. Currently, 1,400 men, out of which 500 are locals, are working through the day to complete the behemoth structure by March 2019.

The project is an attempt to boost tourism and increase employment opportunities in the state. The bridge forms the crucial link in the 111-km stretch between Katra and Banihal which is a part of the Udhampur- Srinagar-Baramulla section of the Kashmir Railway project. Gupta said the 325-km-long Kashmir rail link is the most expensive stretch out of the entire 66,000-km rail line in the country. The completion of the Kashmir rail link project will provide an all-weather and reliable connectivity to Jammu and Kashmir with the rest of the country through rail network. PTI