News Brief
Rishikesh-Karnaprayag Rail Project Achieves Another Milestone With Breakthrough Of 6.67 Km Tunnel Between Gullar And Byasi
The 6.6 km tunnel between Gullar and Byasi (X/@RailVikas)
In a major boost to rail connectivity in the Himalayan region, the Rishikesh-Karnaprayag Broad Gauge Rail Project has achieved a significant milestone with the successful breakthrough of a key tunnel between Gullar and Byasi.
Calling it a major boost to regional railway connectivity, the Ministry of Railways said, "The Rishikesh-Karnaprayag Broad Gauge Project achieves a key milestone with the successful breakthrough of the 6.67 km tunnel between Gullar and Byasi".
The breakthrough, it said, was made possible through the use of advanced tunnelling technology and meticulous planning.
“This success reflects exemplary teamwork, technical expertise, and meticulous planning, setting a strong precedent for future infrastructure projects,” Rail Vikas Nigam Limited said on X.
Earlier on 16 April, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, accompanied by Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, witnessed the breakthrough of India’s longest rail tunnel at Janasu.
Tunnel No 8, stretching 14.57 km between Devprayag and Janasu, is part of the Rishikesh-Karnaprayag project.
Traversing difficult Himalayan terrain, the rail line will run through the districts of Dehradun, Tehri Garhwal, Pauri Garhwal, Rudraprayag, and Chamoli, linking the hilly interiors of the state with the plains.
Once completed, it will offer seamless rail access to major religious and tourist destinations in Uttarakhand from Rishikesh and further to Delhi.
A significant portion of the alignment, around 84 per cent, runs through tunnels, reflecting the challenging topography of the route.
The project includes the construction of 16 mainline tunnels totalling approximately 105 kilometres, along with 12 escape tunnels spanning 98 kilometres.
To manage the scale and complexity, tunnel construction has been divided into 10 separate packages, each assigned to a different executing agency.
