India's Longest Rail Tunnel Unlocks Himalayan Connectivity

Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has announced major progress in the 125-km Rishikesh–Karnaprayag railway project, a transformative infrastructure initiative through Uttarakhand’s Himalayan terrain. As of now, 13 out of 16 mainline tunnels and 9 out of 12 escape tunnels have been completed.

Traversing the districts of Dehradun, Tehri Garhwal, Pauri Garhwal, Rudraprayag, and Chamoli, the railway line will provide vital connectivity to key religious and tourist destinations in the hill state. Once operational, it will significantly enhance access between Rishikesh and the upper Himalayas, while also strengthening links to Delhi—boosting regional development and pilgrimage tourism.

A defining feature of the project is its extensive tunneling, with 84% of the route—approximately 105 km—passing through tunnels. The project also includes 98 km of escape tunnels. To accelerate excavation, eight adits were constructed, all of which have now been completed.

One of the highlights is Tunnel T8, which at 14.59 km is India’s longest railway tunnel. A breakthrough was achieved in April, marking a key milestone. Overall, 199 km of tunneling out of a total planned 213 km has been completed.

The project is being implemented using advanced construction technologies and under strict environmental safeguards to minimize ecological impact in the fragile Himalayan region.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.