📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Satdeep Gill
National
206 km of 213 km tunnel finished on Rishikesh‑Karnaprayag rail line; 40 breakthroughs done
✍️ Swarajya
🗓 09 Sep 2026, 03:33 PM
👁 17
Tunnel excavation for the 213‑km Rishikesh‑Karnaprayag rail link has reached 206 km, with 40 of the 46 planned breakthroughs already achieved, according to Swarajya.
The Rishikesh‑Karnaprayag railway project in Uttarakhand is making rapid headway on its most challenging segment – a series of tunnels stretching over 213 kilometres. To date, excavation work has progressed to about 206 kilometres, leaving only a small stretch yet to be dug.
Out of the 46 designated breakthrough points, 40 have already been achieved, signalling that the majority of the tunnel alignment is now open for further construction activities such as lining and outfitting. Engineers attribute the pace to advanced tunnel‑boring machines and coordinated effort among multiple work fronts.
The line, once operational, is expected to cut travel time between the two towns dramatically and boost tourism and freight movement in the Himalayan region. Project officials have not disclosed a revised completion date, but the current progress suggests the target timeline may be maintained.
Stakeholders, including the state government and Indian Railways, are monitoring the work closely to ensure safety standards are upheld in the fragile mountain terrain. The tunnel work remains a key indicator of the overall health of the infrastructure push in the state.
Out of the 46 designated breakthrough points, 40 have already been achieved, signalling that the majority of the tunnel alignment is now open for further construction activities such as lining and outfitting. Engineers attribute the pace to advanced tunnel‑boring machines and coordinated effort among multiple work fronts.
The line, once operational, is expected to cut travel time between the two towns dramatically and boost tourism and freight movement in the Himalayan region. Project officials have not disclosed a revised completion date, but the current progress suggests the target timeline may be maintained.
Stakeholders, including the state government and Indian Railways, are monitoring the work closely to ensure safety standards are upheld in the fragile mountain terrain. The tunnel work remains a key indicator of the overall health of the infrastructure push in the state.