Longest Rail Tunnel Breakthrough on Rishikesh-Karnaprayag Line

Spread love

India Achieves Breakthrough in Longest Transport Tunnel Construction on Rishikesh-Karnaprayag Rail Line

By TRH News Desk

Rishikesh, April 16, 2025: In a historic moment for Indian infrastructure, Tunnel No. 8 of the Rishikesh–Karnaprayag Railway Project, set to be India’s longest transport tunnel at 14.58 km, achieved a major milestone today with a successful tunnel breakthrough ceremony.

The event was attended by Railways, IT & MeitY Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Dhami, and Rajya Sabha MP Anil Baluni.

“This milestone marks a significant leap in the project that will redefine transportation in the Himalayan region and contribute to national strategic and development goals,” said a senior railway official.

A Landmark in Indian Tunneling

Tunnel No. 8 surpasses the 12.75 km rail tunnel on the Katra–Banihal section (USBRL) and the 9.02 km Atal Road Tunnel, becoming the longest transport tunnel in the country.

“The Rishikesh–Karnaprayag rail line spans 125.2 km, of which a staggering 83 per cent (104 km) is being constructed through 16 main tunnels. The total tunnel length for the project stands at 213.57 km, including 16 main tunnels (104 km), 12 escape tunnels (97.72 km), and cross passages (7.05 km) — an engineering feat in the rugged Himalayan landscape,” the Railways said in a note shared with the media.

Engineering Marvel in the Himalayas

The construction of Tunnel No. 8 is notable for being the first successful use of a Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) by Indian Railways in Himalayan geology. “The TBM, with a 9.11-meter excavation diameter, completed 10.4 km of tunneling, while the remaining 4.11 km was executed using the New Austrian Tunneling Method (NATM),” added the Railways.

The geology posed immense challenges: the tunnel traverses the Chandpur Formation of the Jaunsar Group, composed of schistose phyllite and quartzite, with high variability in rock mass and intense squeezing ground conditions.

“The alignment saw overburden depths ranging from 70 meters to nearly 1,000 meters, further complicating construction,” further stated the Ministry of Railways in its note for the media.

Key engineering and logistical hurdles included:

Geological complexity: Frequent transitions between weak and strong rock zones, coupled with deep-seated landslides and squeezing ground conditions.
Water ingress: High water inflow in two sections, with rates reaching up to 2000 liters per minute, necessitating robust safety and drainage systems.
Logistics under pressure: Continuous material transport on a 30 km stretch of national highway, affected by monsoons, landslides, and pilgrimage traffic.
Simultaneous construction: Multiple tunneling faces worked in parallel using eight Adits, accelerating progress despite terrain and climate constraints.

Present tunneling progress stands at 195 km, including main tunnels, escape routes, adits, and cross passages — over 91 per cent of the total scope.

Bridge Infrastructure and Connectivity

The project features:

19 major, 38 minor, and 5 important bridges—including critical crossings over the Ganga, Chandrabhaga, and Alaknanda rivers.
08 major bridges and 3 important bridges have already been completed, while work on the remaining structures is progressing rapidly.

Commissioned in phases, the Virbhadra–Yog Nagari Rishikesh section was completed in March 2020. The remaining sections, including full tunneling, are targeted for completion by the end of FY 2026–27, after which track laying, electrification (OHE), and signaling works will begin.

“Since 2014, Indian Railways has executed over 468 km of tunnelling, 3.7 times more than the cumulative 125 km before 2014, marking a new era in rail infrastructure,” added the Ministry in its note.

Strategic Importance

Once complete, the Rishikesh–Karnaprayag Railway will:

Strengthen connectivity to Char Dham and remote Himalayan regions.
Facilitate economic development, tourism, and military logistics.
Stand as a testament to India’s growing prowess in complex infrastructure projects.

“With the successful breakthrough of Tunnel No. 8, India has moved one step closer to transforming mobility in one of its most challenging terrains,” added the Railways.

Join the WhatsApp Channel of The Raisina Hills

Follow on Google News https://news.google.com/publications/CAAqBwgKMNK2vwsw39HWAw?hl=en-IN&gl=IN&ceid=IN%3Aen