While reviewing the last mile connectivity plans for Char Dham projects, Union Minister for Railways Piyush Goyal said that Pilgrims must get fast, safe and comfortable last leg connectivity with the Char Dhams.

The Minister directed concerned officials to do a detailed review of all the alternatives keeping in view the comfort and safety of citizens. He said that options of all last leg connectivity be examined along with detailed cost implications for the entire project upto completion.

Minister said that in order to cater to the need of tourism and to make it convenient for the pilgrims to reach the temple safely and timely, a comprehensive planning for the project needs to be done.

It may be noted that Final Location Survey (FLS) for new broad-gauge rail connectivity to Char Dham i.e. Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath are near completion.

Kedarnath and Badrinath Rail connectivity will take off from Karnaprayag station which is part of 125 km long Rishikesh-Karnaprayag new broad-gauge Rail line project under construction at full swing.

Gangotri and Yamunotri Rail connectivity will take off from existing Doiwala Station. As per Char Dham broad-gauge rail connectivity survey, the terminal stations of new broad-gauge rail line will be located at Barkot, Uttarkashi, Soneprayag and Joshimath which are short of Char Dham temples due to steep terrain and limitation of broad-gauge ruling gradients.

In order to cater to the need of tourism and to make it convenient for the pilgrims to reach the temples safely and timely, Reconnaissance Engineering Survey (RES) for connecting new broad-gauge Railway terminal stations to Dhams (Temples) is being carried out with an objective to look for suitable system which is environmental friendly, safe and at the same time a tourist attraction.

"A large number of pilgrims across the country visit Char Dhams. Also, a large number of foreign and domestic tourists are attracted to trekking and sightseeing in the state of Uttarakhand," the Ministry of Railways said in a statement.

The existing road connectivity travels through fragile mountainous slopes and suffers from serious handicaps of load, capacity, safety and speed.

"The Rail connectivity to these Char Dhams will make the travel much safer, economical, comfortable, environment friendly and all weather," it added.