<span style="color: #222222;">In Jammu and Kashmir, the track laying work commenced on Tuesday on the world's highest arch railway bridge over the river Chenab in the Reasi district of Jammu division, located 359 metres above the riverbed.<br />''<br />'' AIR Correspondent reports that the 1.3-kilometre-long railway bridge, which is 35 metres higher than the iconic Eiffel Tower in Paris, forms a crucial link in the 111 km stretch from Katra to Banihal, which is part of the 21,653 crore rupees Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Link (USBRL) project. Once completed, this bridge will open up new possibilities for the remote regions of J&K. The base of the steel and concrete arch railway bridge between Bakkal and Kauri villages of Reasi and Ramban districts was completed in November 2017, allowing for the start of the construction of the main arch which was done in April 2021.<br />''<br />''Another milestone on the bridge was achieved in August last year when the overarch deck of the bridge was completed with a 'Golden Joint', paving way for the laying of the track. <br />''<br />''The bridge will be able to withstand winds with speeds up to 260 kmph and will have a lifespan of 120 years. Besides the highest railway bridge, the USBRL project has many firsts like the longest railway tunnel having an overall length of 12.75 km, and the first cable-stayed bridge which when completed will be an engineering marvel of the 21st century. Worth to mention, out of the total 272 km USBRL project, 161 km was commissioned in phases, with the first phase 118 km Qazigund-Baramulla section commissioned in October 2009 followed by 18 km Banihal-Qazigund in June 2013 and 25 km Udhampur-Katra in July 2014.</span><br />