Rishikesh-Karnaprayag rail project set for December 2029 completion: RVNL CMD

The Rishikesh-Karnaprayag railway line, a 125-kilometer-long project, is set to be completed by December 2029, according to Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) Chairman and Managing Director Saleem Ahmad. The project, estimated to cost Rs 37,000 crore, is being developed by RVNL and aims to enhance rail connectivity in Uttarakhand, facilitate travel to the Himalayan region, and boost tourism in the area.

Railway officials report that 78 percent of the project has been completed, with tunnel excavation reaching 97 percent. The line will pass through Dehradun, Tehri Garhwal, Pauri Garhwal, Rudraprayag, and Chamoli districts, connecting key religious sites like Devprayag and Karnaprayag with Rishikesh and the national capital. The project primarily involves constructing 16 main tunnels and 12 escape tunnels, with 101 kilometers of main tunnels and 95 kilometers of escape tunnels already completed.