The Rishikesh-Karnaprayag new broad-gauge railway project has completed the breakthrough of Escape Tunnel-1, marking a significant step in the construction of the Himalayan rail link. The tunnel now connects across its full 10.847-kilometre length.
Railway officials said the completed structure is India’s second-longest railway tunnel. The longest is Tunnel-49 on the Katra-Banihal section of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link project in Jammu and Kashmir. That tunnel measures 12.895 kilometres and lies between Khari and Banihal stations.
Difficult Himalayan geology slowed construction
The tunnel passes through highly challenging geological formations, including heavily fractured, folded and faulted rock. Some stretches also contained unstable and extensively broken material, creating additional difficulties during excavation.
Railway officials said thick mylonite zones developed mainly around the Main Boundary Thrust. Completing excavation and achieving the final breakthrough in these conditions required technical expertise, persistence, coordination and sustained work by the project teams.
The railway announced the milestone on Saturday, after work on the escape tunnel was completed on Friday. Project manager Nishith Sharma said the section from Dhalwala to Neer Gaddu had achieved its breakthrough and that construction was continuing with the required technical standards and safety arrangements.
5 more breakthroughs expected within a year
The railway said the project is moving closer to completion. Its remaining 5 breakthroughs are expected to be achieved within the next year, bringing the wider Himalayan rail initiative nearer to its stated objective.
The 125-kilometre railway will link Yog Nagari Rishikesh station with Karnaprayag town in Uttarakhand’s lower Himalayan Garhwal region. Tunnel construction remains one of the project’s most important components because of the difficult terrain.
About 1,000 employees are working around the clock to maintain construction momentum, according to Sharma. The project is being advanced with continuous work and specified safety measures.
Different tunnel counts reported for the project
The project includes 28 tunnels across its 125-kilometre route, according to deputy general manager (Civil) OP Malgudi. He said Rail Vikas Nigam Limited has completed 22 of these tunnels so far.
Railway information also said construction work on 41 tunnels had been completed in the project. The available details provide both figures without explaining the difference between the broader construction count and the 28 tunnels identified for the main route.
Malgudi described the railway as more than a track-laying scheme. He said it is intended to give Uttarakhand’s mountainous transport infrastructure a new direction.
Why the breakthrough matters
The completed escape tunnel represents progress on a route where underground construction is central to overcoming the region’s geographical constraints. Its full breakthrough also demonstrates that work has advanced through some of the project’s most technically demanding sections.
The next stated milestone is the completion of the remaining 5 breakthroughs within one year. Until then, construction will continue across the project under technical and safety requirements.
Conclusion
The completion of the 10.847-kilometre Escape Tunnel-1 is a major milestone for the 125-kilometre Rishikesh-Karnaprayag rail project, with 5 more breakthroughs expected within the next year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What milestone has the Rishikesh-Karnaprayag project achieved?
The project has completed the breakthrough of Escape Tunnel-1 across its full 10.847-kilometre length.
Q. How long is Escape Tunnel-1?
Escape Tunnel-1 is 10.847 kilometres long. The project manager described the Dhalwala-to-Neer Gaddu section as a 10-kilometre escape tunnel.
Q. Which is India’s longest railway tunnel?
Tunnel-49 on the Katra-Banihal section of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link is the longest. It measures 12.895 kilometres.
Q. How many breakthroughs remain?
The railway expects the remaining 5 breakthroughs to be completed within the next year.
Q. What is the length of the Rishikesh-Karnaprayag rail project?
The railway project is 125 kilometres long and will connect Yog Nagari Rishikesh station with Karnaprayag.
Q. How many tunnels are included in the project?
The project includes 28 tunnels, according to deputy general manager (Civil) OP Malgudi. Railway information also reported that work on 41 tunnels had been completed.
Q. How many workers are supporting construction?
About 1,000 employees are working around the clock to support the project’s construction work.
Q. What geological problems affected the tunnel work?
Workers faced fractured, folded and faulted rock, unstable sections and mylonite zones near the Main Boundary Thrust.
