India’s newly inaugurated Chenab Rail Bridge—a marvel of engineering standing 359 m above the Chenab River—may well be the world’s highest railway arch, but its significance runs deeper than infrastructure, argues Indian Express columnist Amitabh Mattoo. The bridge undeniably signals political resolve and strategic integration, connecting Kashmir more firmly to the rest of India. However, Mattoo emphasizes that infrastructure alone will not heal the scars left by violence, conflict, and historical neglect.
Rather than mere symbolic acts, lasting peace requires nurturing local aspirations: empathy, dignity, and agency. Rural roads, electricity, schools, and health centres—beyond grand projects—ought to translate into meaningful livelihood improvements. Security operations, though necessary, must give way to inclusive governance, where Kashmiris are not “managed” but empowered as active participants.
South Asia Times echoes this critical perspective, viewing the Chenab Bridge as entwined with broader political messaging. It raises questions about whether infrastructure enhances empowerment or reinforces central control and surveillance.
As the world hails this spectacle of steel, the real test lies in converting connectivity into trust. Kashmir needs more than steel spans—it demands political empathy, restoration of autonomy, and sustained investment in its people’s future.
