Rishikesh-Karnaprayag Rail Project: 83% of 125-km Route to Run Through Tunnels
The Rs 37,000-crore Rishikesh-Karnaprayag railway, targeted for completion by December 2029, will run almost entirely through tunnels across five Uttarakhand districts.
Current Summary
The Rishikesh-Karnaprayag railway line, a Rs 37,000-crore project being developed by Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) under the Ministry of Railways, is targeted for completion by December 2029. Sanctioned in the Union Budget 2010-11, the 125-km line will connect Rishikesh with Karnaprayag via 12 stations, passing through Dehradun, Tehri Garhwal, Pauri Garhwal, Rudraprayag and Chamoli districts, and will link religious destinations including Devprayag and Karnaprayag with Rishikesh and the national capital. Due to the challenging Himalayan terrain, around 83 percent of the route — roughly 104 km — will run through tunnels. The project includes 28 tunnels (16 main tunnels and 12 escape tunnels) and 57 major and minor bridges. According to the latest project figures, 101 km of the main tunnels and 95 km of the escape tunnels have been completed, with Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) technology being used in the construction.
What We Know
- The project is sanctioned at a cost of Rs 37,000 crore and targeted for completion by December 2029.
- It is being implemented by Rail Vikas Nigam Limited under the Ministry of Railways.
- The 125-km line connects Rishikesh with Karnaprayag via 12 stations, passing through Dehradun, Tehri Garhwal, Pauri Garhwal, Rudraprayag and Chamoli districts.
- 83 percent of the route, about 104 km, will run through tunnels; the project includes 28 tunnels and 57 bridges.
- 101 km of main tunnels and 95 km of escape tunnels have been completed so far.
What Is Still Unclear
- The overall percentage of total project completion beyond tunnel figures.
- Exact locations of the 12 planned stations.
What Changed
- 22 Oct, 04:42 pmSignal detected: Rishikesh-Karnaprayag Rail Project: 83% of 125-km Route to Run Through Tunnels
Background
The project was sanctioned in the Union Budget 2010-11 to improve rail access to the Garhwal Himalayas and Char Dham pilgrimage routes.