Rishikesh-Karnaprayag railway line: The Rishikesh-Karnaprayag railway project is targeted for completion by December 2029. The project is being developed by Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL), a Public Sector Undertaking under the Ministry of Railways at a cost of Rs 37,000 crore. Once completed, it will improve rail connectivity in Uttarakhand and make travel to the Himalayan region easier.

Rishikesh-Karnaprayag railway project update

In a recent statement, RVNL Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) Saleem Ahmad said the 125-km-long rail project has achieved 78 per cent overall progress, while around 97 per cent of the tunnel excavation has been completed.

“Targeted for completion by December 2029, the project will improve access to the Himalayan region, support the Char Dham pilgrimage corridor, strengthen border connectivity, boost tourism and local economies, and significantly reduce travel time in the region,” he added.

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About Rishikesh-Karnaprayag rail line

The Rishikesh-Karnaprayag new line project was sanctioned in the Union Budget 2010-11. It passes through Dehradun, Tehri Garhwal, Pauri Garhwal, Rudraprayag and Chamoli districts. It will connect important religious destinations such as Devprayag and Karnaprayag with Rishikesh and the national capital.

The project mainly involves the construction of tunnels. It includes 16 main tunnels spanning 104 km and 12 escape tunnels covering around 98 km. So far, 101 km of the main tunnels and 95 km of the escape tunnels have been completed.

To speed up construction, eight access roads with a total length of 5 km have also been built, and all of them are now complete.

According to the Railways, 11 of the 19 major bridges planned under the project have been completed, while work on the remaining bridges is underway.