Construction on the Rishikesh-Karnaprayag railway project is accelerating rapidly with train operations in the Byasi section expected to begin by 2028. This vital infrastructure initiative aims to improve travel and accessibility across the region. Here are the key highlights of the project progress: The broader 125-kilometer broad-gauge line is scheduled for total completion by December 2029 to enhance connectivity to Char Dham shrines and border regions. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw confirmed in a Lok Sabha address on July 29, 2026, that 101 kilometers of mainline tunnels are complete alongside more than 95 kilometers of escape tunnels. Financial data as of June 2026 shows approximately ₹28,828 crore has been utilized out of the total estimated project budget of ₹38,953 crore. Travel time between Rishikesh and Karnaprayag will drop from seven hours to just over two hours once the entire route becomes fully operational.
Himanshu Badoni, Chief Project Manager Civil for Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL), confirmed that project advancement remains firmly on track. Workers are carrying out excavation and tunnel lining simultaneously to expedite timelines. The complex engineering marvel features 16 mainline tunnels and 12 escape tunnels. This includes Tunnel Number 8, which spans a massive 14.58 kilometers between Devprayag and Janasu, making it India's longest railway tunnel. Development efforts involve a consortium of firms, including Siemens, which secured a ₹263 crore electrification contract, alongside major construction partners such as L&T, HCC, NEC, Megha, Max Infra (I) Ltd., and Navayuga Engineering.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami continues to emphasize the strategic necessity of the new rail line. He has been actively reviewing construction regulations in the 400-meter freeze zone to carefully balance passenger safety with local growth requirements. For railway travellers and pilgrims, this transformative project will soon offer a much faster, safer, and more reliable journey through the picturesque terrain of Uttarakhand.
