From 47 km to 5 km, new Chenab bridge to revolutionize travel in Jammu’s border belt
Vikram Sharma
JAMMU: The Indri-Pattan bridge, currently under construction over the Chenab River near the international border in the Akhnoor sector of Jammu, is expected to be completed by the end of this year.
Strategically crucial, the bridge will significantly enhance the Indian Army’s mobility and operational reach in the Akhnoor and Planwala sectors. Additionally, it promises economic development and better connectivity for over 40 border villages, long affected by inadequate infrastructure and vulnerability to cross-border shelling.
Once completed, it will be the longest river bridge in North India, stretching approximately 2.25 kilometers. Currently, the only road linking Paragwal—a border area—to the Jammu-Akhnoor highway passes through Sua Number-One, a route dangerously close to the international border.
This road lies within the firing range of Pakistani forces, and during heavy shelling, around 25,000 to 30,000 residents find themselves completely cut off. The new bridge addresses this long-standing issue by offering a safer and more reliable alternative.
The bridge, with a 1,640-meter span, is being built between Indri-Pattan and Paragwal near Sajwal. Its construction will dramatically reduce travel time and distance in the region. For example, the journey between Sajwal and Indri-Pattan will shrink from 47 kilometers to just 5 kilometers.
It will also link Paragwal to the Jaurian area, offering both the military and civilians a shorter route to the Line of Control (LoC) in the Jaurian-Planwala sector, bypassing the vulnerable Akhnoor route.
Though the demand for this bridge dates back to India’s independence, and various proposals were made over the decades, actual work only materialized in 2016 when the central government approved the project with a budget of Rs 206 crore.
In 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid its foundation stone virtually from Jammu. However, progress stalled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, regional security challenges, and payment delays to contractors.
Construction resumed in 2023 after the intervention of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha. Once completed, the bridge will also shorten the distance between Paragwal and Khaur tehsil from 55 kilometers to just 14 kilometers, marking a major step forward in regional infrastructure and defense logistics.
