The Indian Railways has completed Tunnel No. 8 of the Rishikesh-Karnaprayag railway project in Uttarakhand, making it the country’s longest transport tunnel at 14.58 km. This marks the first successful use of a Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) in the Himalayas. The project aims to enhance connectivity across five hill districts, boost tourism, and ease access to pilgrimage sites.
The Indian Railways has reached a significant milestone with the completion of Tunnel No. 8 under the ambitious Rishikesh-Karnaprayag railway project, marking it as the longest transport tunnel in the country at 14.58 km. The event was celebrated in the presence of Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, and Garhwal MP Anil Baluni.
This accomplishment also marks the first-ever successful use of a Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) in the Himalayan region. The remaining portion was excavated using the New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM).
The project, which is set to transform connectivity across Uttarakhand, includes 16 main tunnels spanning over 104 km, 12 escape tunnels of around 98 km, and over 7 km of cross passages—a combined tunneling length exceeding 213 km, 195 km of which is already complete.
The Rishikesh-Karnaprayag railway line promised to be a game-changer for the region, connecting important towns such as Devprayag, Srinagar, Rudraprayag, Gauchar, and Karnaprayag, and enhancing accessibility across five districts: Dehradun, Tehri Garhwal, Pauri Garhwal, Rudraprayag, and Chamoli.
Once operational, this broad-gauge line will facilitate smoother travel to pilgrimage sites, boost tourism, strengthen local economies, and significantly reduce travel time in this region.
In addition to tunnels, the project features 62 bridges, with important ones already completed over the Alaknanda and Chandrabhaga rivers. The supporting infrastructure also comprises road overbridges, underbridges, and three major road bridges.
The Virbhadra–Yog Nagari Rishikesh stretch was commissioned in March 2020, while the remaining tunneling work is expected to conclude by 2026–27, followed by track laying, electrification, and signaling.
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