By admin 
The construction of a rail bridge connecting the Kashmir Valley to the rest of the country has been completed.
It took the railways more than 20 years to complete the bridge over the Chenab river in Reasi district of Jammu. The bridge is 35 meters higher than the Eiffel Tower. The first train will run from the bridge soon. The train will run between Bakkal and Kouri areas.
The construction of the bridge is part of the 272-km railway line, which is planned to be suitable for all weather conditions. The train route, which passes through Jammu, will reach the Kashmir Valley.
Due to heavy snowfall in winter, snow accumulates on the Jammu highway and often the road leading to the Kashmir Valley gets blocked.
Experts say the new railway line will provide a strategic advantage to India in the border area.
‘To counter the tactics of neighbouring countries’
The Kashmir issue has been the cause of tensions between India and Pakistan for decades. These two nuclear-armed countries have faced each other in two wars since independence. Both the countries claim that Kashmir belongs entirely to them. But only a few of it has gained control over areas.
Since 1989, the region (Kashmir), which has been under Indian control, has lost thousands of lives due to an armed insurgency. That’s why the deployment of troops there is huge.
“That bridge will enable the movement of military personnel and equipment to the border areas throughout the year,” said Giridhar Rajagopalan, deputy managing director of Afcons Infrastructure, a contractor for the Indian Railways who built the bridge.
“The bridge will also help India in reversing the tactics of Pakistan and China” along the western and northern borders, said Shruti Pandalai, a strategic affairs expert.
There are differences of opinion about the project on the ground. Some locals, who did not wish to be named, say that the railway line will definitely help in improving the transport facilities and will benefit them. At the same time, he expressed concern that this could also be a way for the Indian government to gain more control over the Valley.
In 2019, prime minister Narendra Modi’s government had abrogated jammu and Kashmir’s special status and bifurcated the state into two union territories. The railway line has also been constructed along with more than 50 other highway and railway power projects as part of the infrastructure expansion.
Strict security measures were put in place there for a few months, triggering outrage in the area. Since then, the government has made several administrative changes to connect Kashmir with the rest of India.
Pandalai pointed out that India is naturally guiding the region with strategic goals, but should also take into account local needs.