Inauguration of Anji Khad, India's first cable-stayed railway bridge

The Anji Khad bridge, in India, was opened to commercial traffic on 6 June 2025, as part of the inauguration of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla rail link subsection of the Jammu-Baramulla line. This iconic structure is strategic for rail transport in India and has significantly raised infrastructure standards both locally and internationally, setting a new benchmark in bridge design and construction.

Designed by Italferr, the engineering firm of the FS Italiane Group, which also supervised the construction work, the bridge is India’s first cable-stayed railway bridge. It has proved an unprecedented engineering feat, given the topography of the area and the extremely challenging conditions posed by the Anji River, which flows through a deep gorge with sub-vertical walls in an area characterised by strong winds.

With a length of 725 metres and a height of 196 metres, the bridge has a cable-stayed section of 473 metres, including a central span of 290 metres and an asymmetrical pylon. This unique design stands out as one of the most ambitious and challenging projects along the entire Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla rail link connecting Kashmir with India's north-western borders.

The asymmetrical design of the cable-stayed bridge was strategically chosen to facilitate most of the construction on one end, to allow its completion, an approach determined by the assessment of the available space and the stability of the slope. The innovative method ensured structural integrity and simplified the construction processes, demonstrating a deep understanding of the functional requirements of the project and the local conditions.

The investment value of the project amounts to $70 million.

The Anji Khad Bridge project was awarded the Award of Merit in the Bridge/Tunnel category of the 2024 ENR Global Best Projects Awards. This prestigious award, presented by an international jury that examined over 120 entries, testifies to the innovation and engineering quality of the project by Italferr, placing it among the best infrastructure projects worldwide. The ENR Global Best Projects Awards, presented annually by Engineering News-Record (ENR) magazine, recognise the world's most significant infrastructure projects, evaluating entries based on criteria such as safety, innovation and sustainability.