New Delhi

For the first time ever since independence, Srinagar will be linked to the rest of India after the overarch deck on the world's highest single-arch railway bridge over Chenab River will be launched on August 13.

The 1.315 km long bridge which is being built at a dizzying height of 359 meters is even taller than Eiffel Tower.

It will connect the Salal-A and Dugga railway stations on either side of the bridge with the mighty River Chenab in Reasi district.

The moment will be marked with a golden joint and is seen as the symbol of national integration.

The bridge is the tallest railway bridge in the world and is being constructed by the Northern Railway at an estimated cost of Rs 28,000 crore as part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link Project.

Named 'Chenab Bridge', the railway bridge is a major achievement towards the completion of the 111 km long Katra-Banhal railway section.

The installation of the arch before the construction of the deck was one of the biggest civil engineering challenges in the recent history of India.

The 'Chenab Bridge' will be at a height of 259 meters

Out of the 111 km, there is 97 km of tunneling which is more than 85%. Tunneling on this scale has not been done in any other part of the country. About 86 km of tunneling work has been completed so far.

Built on Darya Chenab, the arch of this bridge is capable of withstanding winds of 266 kilometers per hour.

The bridge has 17 pillars.

28,660 metric tons of steel was used in its construction, at an estimated cost of Rs 1,486 crore. The steel used in the structure is suitable for temperatures ranging from minus 10 degrees Celsius to minus 40 degrees Celsius.

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The bridge will have a minimum lifespan of 120 years and will be built for trains at a speed of 100 km.