Many huge infrastructure projects are nearing completion in 2025. Among them is a railway bridge that was officially inaugurated this month and now holds the title of the highest in the world.
The Chenab Bridge in India stands at 359 metres (1,178 feet) above the river it crosses, making it approximately 35 metres (114ft) taller than the Eiffel Tower. Built in the Jammu and Kashmir region, it spans the Chenab River and connects two mountain towns, Katra and Banihal, as part of a wider railway project through the Himalayas.
The arch-shaped bridge is a big part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Line, designed to improve connectivity in one of India’s most remote regions.
It was built to handle wind speeds of up to 165km/h (102mph) and is strong enough to withstand earthquakes and extreme temperatures.
According to the BBC, construction on the bridge first began in 2004, but it didn’t go to plan.
The terrain is steep and rugged, which made building and moving equipment difficult.
There were also security challenges in the region due to the long-standing dispute between India and Pakistan.
These tensions, along with local unrest, forced work to stop several times. The security concerns remain to this day.
Progress was slow, but the project continued in phases. The structure was completed in 2022, and after final testing and safety checks, it was opened to the public on June 6, 2025.
The bridge is 1.3 kilometres (0.8 miles) long and cost around £140 million to build.
Engineers say it will transform travel across the Himalayas and make it much easier for residents and tourists to move between northern Indian towns.
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the opening and praised the team behind the project, saying it was a “historic moment” for the country.
The structure is made from over 28,000 tonnes of steel and is painted in a special coating that protects it from rust for up to 120 years.
The government hopes the railway line will help boost the local economy by increasing tourism and making it easier to transport goods and services in and out of the region.
