Rishikesh-Karnaprayag Rail Project Advances: 176 km Of Tunnels Completed, 11 Stations Under Construction To Enhance Char Dham Connectivity

The Ministry of Railways recently provided a significant update on the highly anticipated Rishikesh-Karnaprayag New Broad Gauge (BG) Rail Line project, which promises to revolutionise connectivity in Uttarakhand's Devbhoomi region.

The project, estimated to cost over Rs 16,200 crore, is set to link Rishikesh in the foothills to Karnaprayag. This line will traverse five districts within Uttarakhand: Dehradun, Tehri Garhwal, Pauri Garhwal, Rudraprayag, and Chamoli.

Spanning 125.20 kilometres, this project is set to enhance access to the revered Char Dham pilgrimage sites and boost infrastructure in five key districts of the state.

Out of the 125.2 km of the rail line, 104 km will be through tunnels, which is around 84 per cent of the total length of the line.

The project has a total of 17 tunnels including a 15.1 km tunnel, one of the longest in the country, between Devprayag and Lachmoli.

As part of its broader safety initiatives, the Railway Board has directed all zones to monitor technical inputs generated by the 'Data Logger' system. This advanced device plays a critical role in preventing collisions by continuously recording and analysing various technical parameters, ensuring the safety of trains along the route.

Additionally, the development of 11 stations along the route is well underway, ensuring a more streamlined and efficient travel experience for both pilgrims and locals.

The stations en route are Yog Nagari Rishikesh in Rishikesh, Muni ki Reti, Shivpuri, Manjilgaon, Sakni, Devprayag, Kirti Nagar, Srinagar, Dhari Devi, Rudraprayag, Gholtir and Karnaprayag.

Transforming Char-Dham Connectivity

Once fully operational, the Rishikesh-Karnaprayag rail line will transform travel to the Char Dham, making these sacred destinations more accessible to devotees.

Besides religious tourism, the project is also expected to drive economic and infrastructural growth across the region by improving rail connectivity in the five districts it traverses.

With the completion of this ambitious project, residents and pilgrims will benefit from faster, more reliable transportation options, marking a new era of growth and development for the Devbhoomi region.