Rishikesh–Karnaprayag Rail Project Advances, 83% of Route to Run Through Tunnels
What Happened
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw highlighted progress on Uttarakhand's 125-km Rishikesh–Karnaprayag railway project. The planned line includes 12 stations, with 83% of its route passing through tunnels. Government figures show 101 km of main tunnels completed and 11 of 19 major bridges finished. Project developer RVNL targets completion by December 2029.
Key Takeaways
The railway aims to improve access to Uttarakhand's Himalayan towns and pilgrimage destinations. Extensive tunnelling remains a major engineering challenge, while the project's connectivity benefits depend on its completion.