Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Railways addresses question 2984 regarding the Rishikesh-Karnprayag rail line project, a 125 km project in Uttarakhand aimed at improving connectivity. The project faces challenges due to difficult terrain, requiring extensive tunneling. An extension to connect the Chardham shrines (Gangotri, Yamunotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath) is under consideration, with surveys completed and Detailed Project Reports being firmed up.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Rishikesh-Karnprayag Rail Line Project:**
* The 125 km Rishikesh-Karnprayag rail line project is underway in Uttarakhand.
* The alignment passes through several districts, connecting religious and tourist sites to Rishikesh and Delhi.
* It involves constructing 16 main line tunnels (105 km), 12 escape tunnels (98 km), and 10 km of adits.
* 13 main line tunnels and 9 escape tunnels are completed.
* Tunneling of 199 Km against total scope of 213 Km has been completed.
* Tunnel Boring Machines (TBM) were used for the longest tunnel (14.8 km).
* Tunneling uses precautions and technologies to minimize ecological damage.
* Project completion depends on land acquisition, forest clearance, cost sharing, statutory clearances, geological conditions, and other factors.
* **Chardham Project Connectivity:**
* Final Location Survey is completed for Chardham connectivity (Gangotri, Yamunotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath).
* Two alignments are proposed: Doiwala-Uttarkashi-Barkot (Yamunotri and Gangotri) and Karnaprayag-Saikot-Soneprayag-Joshimath (Kedarnath and Badrinath).
* Project sanctioning requires consultation with stakeholders, including State Governments, NITI Aayog, and the Ministry of Finance.
* Exact timelines for project sanctioning and completion cannot be fixed.
Impact Analysis:
* **State Government of Uttarakhand:**
* Impact: Benefits from improved connectivity and tourism.
* Action Required: Ensure quick land acquisition, forest clearances, and deposition of cost share.
* **Residents and Pilgrims:**
* Impact: Enhanced access to religious sites and improved transportation.
* Action Required: None specified.
* **Indian Railways:**
* Impact: Expansion of rail network and execution of complex engineering projects.
* Action Required: Complete the Rishikesh-Karnprayag rail line and pursue the Chardham connectivity project, subject to approvals and consultations.
* **Ministry of Finance and NITI Aayog:**
* Impact: Required to appraise and approve the Chardham connectivity project.
* Action Required: Appraise the Detailed Project Report for the Chardham connectivity project upon submission.
Key Entities Referenced
RishikeshKarnprayag railway route: A railway line project in Uttarakhand, India, aimed at improving connectivity in the region.
SHRI ANIL BALUNI: Member of Parliament who raised the question regarding the railway route.
SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW: Minister of Railways, Information Broadcasting and Electronics Information Technology, who provided the answer.
Uttarakhand: The state in India where the RishikeshKarnprayag railway line is located.
Dehradun: A district in Uttarakhand through which the railway alignment passes.
National Capital of India: A railway alignment connecting Rishikesh to the National Capital of India.
Chardham Project: A connectivity link to Gangotri, Yamunotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath with Indian Railways.
NITI Aayog: A policy think tank of the Government of India involved in the appraisal of the Chardham Project.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2984
TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.08.2025
EXTENSION OF RISHIKESH-KARNPRAYAG RAILWAY ROUTE
†2984. SHRI ANIL BALUNI:
Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:
(a) the details of the time by when the Rishikesh-Karnprayag railway
route is likely to be completed; and
(b) whether the Government proposes to extend the said railway
route and if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND
ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)
(a) and (b): Rishikesh-Karnaprayag new rail line project (125 km) is a
prestigious project of Indian Railways which lies completely in the
state of Uttarakhand. It passes through difficult geological and
challenging terrain of Himalayas. This project is aimed at transforming
connectivity in Uttarakhand.
The project alignment passes through Dehradun, Tehri Garhwal, Pauri
Garhwal, Rudrapryag and Chamoli Districts of Uttarakhand and will
provide rail connectivity to Devprayag and Karnaprayag religious and
tourist spots with Rishikesh and National Capital of India.The alignment of the project predominantly passes through tunnels.
The project involves construction of 16 main line tunnels of 105 km
length, 12 escape tunnels of about 98 km length and 10 km of
adits/cross passages. So far, 13 main line tunnels and 9 escape tunnels
have been completed.
To increase progress of works, 08 Adits in various tunnels were also
identified. These adits created additional work faces of tunnel
excavation expediting early completion of long tunnels. Works of all 8
Adits have also been completed.
Accordingly, tunneling of 199 Km against total scope of 213 Km has
been completed.
For the first time in Indian Railways, Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) was
deployed in the Himalayan Geology for faster execution of works of
longest tunnel (T-8) which is 14.8Km long. Breakthrough of twin tunnels
through TBMs has been achieved.
The tunneling is being carried out with all precautions and latest
technologies to ensure minimum damage to ecology and surroundings.
The completion of any Railway project depends on various factors like
quick land acquisition by State Government, forest clearance by
officials of forest department, deposition of cost share by State
Government in cost sharing projects, priority of projects, shifting of
infringing utilities, statutory clearances from various authorities,
geological and topographical conditions of area, law and order situation
in the area of project(s) site, number of working months in a year for
particular project site due to climatic conditions etc.The Final Location Survey of Chardham Project- connectivity link to
Gangotri, Yamunotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath with Indian Railways has
been completed. The project has two alignments (i) Doiwala-Uttarkashi-
Barkot which will serve Yamnotari and Gangotri shrines (ii)
Karnaprayag- Saikot- Soneprayag- Joshimath will serve Kedarnath and
Badrinath shrines.
After firming up of Detailed Project Report, sanctioning of project
requires consultation with various stake-holders including State
Governments and necessary approvals viz. appraisal of NITI Aayog,
Ministry of Finance etc. As sanctioning of projects is a continuous and
dynamic process, exact timelines cannot be fixed.
*****