The Rishikesh-Karnaprayag Broad Gauge Rail Project in Uttarakhand has achieved a major milestone with the completion of Tunnel-8. This tunnel is now the longest railway tunnel in India, stretching approximately 14.58 km between Devprayag and Janasu. The project aims to connect Rishikesh with Karnaprayag through a 125-126 km line across five districts.
👉: Railway safety boost: SPAU system implemented at 112 stations in Jodhpur Division।
What are the key details of the project?
The entire railway line will pass through challenging Himalayan terrain. To handle the geography, the project uses a mix of Tunnel Boring Machines (TBM) and the New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM). A large portion of the route runs underground, with 16 main tunnels and 12 escape tunnels planned. Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) is executing the work, with L&T contributing to the breakthrough of Tunnel-8.
When will the line be completed and what is the impact?
The official revised deadline for the full project is December 2028, though some sections may start services earlier. Once operational, the travel time between Rishikesh and Karnaprayag will drop from 7 hours to about 2 hours. This will provide a huge boost to tourism and the Char Dham Yatra. The project also focuses on sustainability, with all 12 proposed stations being developed as green stations following IGBC standards.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Total Length | 125-126 km |
| Longest Tunnel (T-8) | 14.58 km |
| Completion Target | December 2028 |
| Total Main Tunnels | 16 |
| Technology Used | Ballastless Track & TBM |
| Districts Covered | Dehradun, Tehri, Pauri, Rudraprayag, Chamoli |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How long is the new longest rail tunnel in India?
Tunnel-8, located between Devprayag and Janasu in the Rishikesh-Karnaprayag project, is approximately 14.58 km long.
How will this project change travel time in Uttarakhand?
The project will reduce the travel time between Rishikesh and Karnaprayag from the current 7 hours to approximately 2 hours.
{“@context”: “https://schema.org”, “@type”: “FAQPage”, “mainEntity”: [{“@type”: “Question”, “name”: “How long is the new longest rail tunnel in India?”, “acceptedAnswer”: {“@type”: “Answer”, “text”: “Tunnel-8, located between Devprayag and Janasu in the Rishikesh-Karnaprayag project, is approximately 14.58 km long.”}}, {“@type”: “Question”, “name”: “How will this project change travel time in Uttarakhand?”, “acceptedAnswer”: {“@type”: “Answer”, “text”: “The project will reduce the travel time between Rishikesh and Karnaprayag from the current 7 hours to approximately 2 hours.”}}]}