New Delhi, May 9 -- With tensions simmering with Pakistan, India's railway ministry is exploring the possibility of opening the world's tallest railway bridge over the Chenab River for the movement of defence personnel and essential supplies, according to two people aware of the development.

The Chenab Rail Bridge, located in Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi district, connects remote mountainous terrain and is crucial for improving access to the Kashmir Valley. Part of the newly completed Kashmir railway network, the bridge, rising 359 metres above the riverbed, enhances strategic connectivity across the Pir Panjal range, helping bypass landslide-prone roads and drastically cutting travel time.

While the bridge is yet to open for general passe...