The highest railway bridge in the world, the Chenab Rail Bridge that passes over the Chenab River in Jammu and Kashmir, is set to transform into a premier tourist destination. The Indian Railways (IR) is constructing dedicated viewing platforms and observation decks for public visitors. This means that the steel arch bridge will soon offer tourists panoramic vantage points to view the engineering marvel up close rather than solely experiencing it in transit from the windows of the speeding trains. Here are the vital details for this project.
Chenab Rail Bridge May Soon Offer Viewing Decks
Perched 359 meters above the riverbed, the Chenab Rail Bridge is at a higher height than the Eiffel Tower in Paris. The bridge also spans a total distance of 1,315 meters. If reports are to go by, the officials have also confirmed that a dedicated engineering museum is being developed at the site.
This museum will showcase the complex 20-year construction history, structural milestones, and technological feats achieved in building the landmark. The bridge is purported to have a resilient design that has been engineered to withstand the extreme winds of the Himalayas. What is more, the bridge can withstand earthquakes of up to 8.0 magnitude on the Richter scale.
Also Read: PM Modi To Inaugurate Chenab Bridge, The World’s Tallest Railway Bridge
A Bid To Boost Tourism In The Region
The new initiative of building viewing decks on the bridge is aimed at boosting tourism. The bridge is a part of the larger Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project that is said to provide seamless and all-weather connectivity across the Kashmir Valley.
One of the most significant features of this rail link, apart from the world’s highest rail bridge, is that it has a total of 36 tunnels and more than 900 bridges. The tunnels on this railway line are said to be some of the longest in the country.
Also Read: Chenab Rail Bridge Inauguration: All You Need To Know
Summing Up
This initiative of installing viewing decks on the highest railway bridge in the world surely is ambitious. Given the height, it is hoped that adequate safety measures will be put in place for the safety of tourists. The initiative is aimed at boosting tourism in the region.
