Indian Railways: New rail projects approved for Tanakpur-Bageshwar and Nepal border routes
Indian Railways has officially sanctioned several major rail projects for Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh in the latest Pink Book. These projects include new lines and doubling work aimed at improving connectivity to remote areas and international borders. The Izzatnagar division will manage many of these crucial developments, which are expected to transform travel in the Kumaon region and beyond.
🚨: Charkhi Dadri-Nimrana rail line: Survey completed for 155 km route with 15 new stations।
What are the main rail projects approved in Uttarakhand and UP?
The railway ministry has given the green light to a 158.58 km new rail line from Tanakpur to Bageshwar. A budget of 28.95 crore rupees has been set aside for the Final Location Survey (FLS) of this route. Additionally, a new 35 km rail line connecting Haldwani to Reetha Sahib has received approval for its initial engineering and traffic survey. These lines are strategically important as they bring rail connectivity closer to the Nepal border and the higher reaches of the Himalayas.
Apart from the hill routes, the Kichha-Khatima rail line project has received significant financial backing. A total of 350.85 crore rupees has been sanctioned for this 57.7 km section. The government is also focusing on upgrading existing infrastructure, with 99.51 crore rupees allocated for the development of railway facilities in Bareilly during the current financial year. Seven other stations under the Izzatnagar division will also see improvements worth 65.53 crore rupees.
Detailed budget allocation and project status
| Project Name | Length (km) | Status / Budget Allocated |
|---|---|---|
| Tanakpur-Bageshwar New Line | 158.58 km | FLS Survey Approved (28.95 Cr) |
| Kichha-Khatima New Line | 57.7 km | 350.85 Cr Sanctioned |
| Haldwani-Reetha Sahib Line | 35 km | Survey Approved |
| Bareilly Railway Development | – | 99.51 Cr Allocated |
| Rishikesh-Karnaprayag Project | 126 km | 70% Work Completed |
Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has noted that the budget for Uttarakhand rail infrastructure has seen a massive increase over the years. The Rishikesh-Karnaprayag rail project, which is a major engineering marvel involving 105 km of tunnels, is expected to be completed by 2026. This will reduce the travel time from Rishikesh to Karnaprayag from 7 hours to just 2 hours. Furthermore, stations like Haridwar and Dehradun are being prepared for the Kumbh 2027 with enhanced passenger facilities.