The bridge as a political and strategic symbol
The project is seen as part of a broader strategy by the Modi government to integrate Muslim Kashmir into the rest of India. In 2019, the Indian government revoked a constitutional provision that granted the region autonomy and divided it into two union territories under the rule of New Delhi.
Along with the bridge, Modi also inaugurated the massive Udhampur–Srinagar–Baramulla railway line, which is intended to connect important cities in Kashmir with the country's transport network.
Infrastructure as a tool of influence
Infrastructure projects like the Chenab Bridge are part of Modi's vision to transform India into a developed nation by 2047. His government is investing billions of dollars in modernizing the transportation system, especially in mountainous areas.
A decorated Vande Bharat passenger train at Srinagar station ahead of the inauguration of rail links to Kashmir by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Photo: Tausee Mustafa/AFP/Getty Images
But the construction boom has raised concerns among environmentalists, who warn that such projects could cause irreparable damage to the fragile ecosystem. Last year alone, India witnessed several disasters, including a tunnel collapse in the state of Uttarakhand and a double bridge collapse in Bihar, raising questions about the quality of construction.
Despite this, the Modi government is positioning the Chenab Bridge as a triumph of engineering, national unity, and India's strategic presence in a region where armed conflict and political disputes remain a reality.
Main photo – Tausee Mustafa / AFP / Getty Images