Uttarakhand's New Rail Artery: 125 km to Transformation

The Ministry of Railways is advancing the 125-km Rishikesh–Karnaprayag New Broad Gauge Line, a transformative project officials describe as a major reimagining of rail connectivity in Uttarakhand.

The 125.20-km route poses substantial engineering challenges, with 83.07% of the alignment running through tunnels. Construction includes 16 main tunnels totaling 104 km, 12 escape tunnels spanning 97.72 km, and 7.05 km of cross-passages. The longest tunnel stretches 14.58 km, reflecting the complexity of building through the rugged Himalayan terrain.

The line also features 14 rail bridges, including five important or major structures, collectively extending 3,076 meters. Key highlights include the Gauchar Bridge (Br-15), the tallest at 46.99 meters; the Srinagar Bridge (Br-09), with a maximum length of 489 meters; and the Devprayag Bridge (Br-06), which has the longest span of 125 meters.

To support seamless multimodal connectivity, the project further includes six road bridges, two road overbridges, and 38 minor bridges. Additionally, twelve new stations are planned along the route to enhance accessibility and boost regional economic development.

The alignment incorporates 18.43 km of open cuttings and embankments—14.72% of the project—designed to accommodate the region’s challenging topography.

So far, the Ministry of Railways has completed 201 km of tunnel work out of 213 km. Once operational, the Rishikesh–Karnaprayag line will significantly improve access to Karnaprayag and strengthen rail connectivity across five major districts of Uttarakhand.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.