Rishikesh-Karnaprayag Rail Line: Electrical Work To Begin In October; Travel Time To Drop To 2.5 Hours

Electrical and signalling work on the Rishikesh-Karnaprayag rail line will commence from October. Once the project is complete, people will be able to travel from Rishikesh to Karnaprayag by train in just 2.5 hours. Salim Ahmed, Chairman and Managing Director of Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL), which is constructing the project, inspected the proposed stations and tunnels on Tuesday.

RVNL CMD Sets December 2028 Completion Deadline

On the final day of his two-day tour, the RVNL CMD inspected the tunnelling works, bridges, and proposed station sites. He reviewed the safety, construction quality, and environmental protection measures. He directed that the project must be completed before December 2028, adhering to all standards. He interacted with the workers and technical teams on-site and praised their dedication and contribution in the extremely challenging Himalayan conditions.

Station Construction And Strategic Timeline

The construction of Devprayag, Janasu, Maletha, Srinagar, Dhar Devi, Tilani, Gholtir, Gauchar, and Karnaprayag railway stations will commence from May. Electrical and signalling work on the rail project will begin this October. Upon completion of the project, the travel time from Rishikesh to Karnaprayag will be reduced to 2.5 hours.

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Achievements And Current Progress Of The Rail Project

The project has seen significant milestones to date:

- Train operations on the first 5.7 km block section (Virbhadra–Yog Nagari Rishikesh) have been ongoing since 2020.

- Excavation of 13 out of 16 main tunnels is completed (98 km; 95 per cent of work finished).

- Breakthrough has been achieved in 40 out of 46 tunnels, with 130.6 km of final lining completed.

- 8 out of 19 major rail bridges are completed, including Bridge-8 and Bridge-9 over the Alaknanda river.

- Track laying work is currently in progress.

Commitment To Environmental Conservation

During the inspection, the CMD instructed for extensive tree plantation to maintain a balance between development and environmental conservation. He stated that the environmental impact during construction will be compensated for through green belt development and extensive tree plantation. This will maintain a balance between infrastructure development and environmental conservation.

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A Transformative Lifeline For The Himalayas

"This railway line project, which is primarily based on tunnels, has the potential to be a real game-changer for the country's overall development," said Salim Ahmed, Chairman and Managing Director, RVNL. "This corridor is not just an infrastructure asset but a transformative lifeline for the Himalayan region. RVNL is completing this project with full commitment to quality, safety, speed, and deadlines, even in extremely challenging geological and climatic conditions."