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Rishikesh-Karnaprayag Rail Project Reaches 41st Tunnel Breakthrough
Confirmed
In Short: The Rishikesh-Karnaprayag rail project has achieved another major milestone with the final breakthrough of Escape Tunnel-1, marking 41 tunnel breakthroughs and bringing the project closer to completion.
The Rishikesh-Karnaprayag rail project has achieved another major milestone with the final breakthrough of Escape Tunnel-1 on September 11, 2026, marking 41 tunnel breakthroughs so far. This significant achievement is a testament to the technical expertise and perseverance of all stakeholders involved, according to the Ministry of Railways.
The project, developed by Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) at a cost of Rs 37,000 crore, is being constructed through challenging Himalayan geological conditions, including thick mylonite zones and highly tectonized rock formations. The tunnel, 10.847 km long, is the second-longest in the project and has been completed despite adverse geological conditions.
According to RVNL Chairman and Managing Director Saleem Ahmad, the project has achieved 78 per cent overall progress, with around 97 per cent of the tunnel excavation completed. Only five more breakthroughs are expected to be completed within the next year, bringing the project closer to its completion and improving rail connectivity in Uttarakhand.
The successful completion of the 10-kilometer escape tunnel at Dhalwala, marking the 22nd successful breakthrough for the 125-kilometer Rishikesh-Karnaprayag line, is a significant engineering milestone. This achievement is expected to make travel to the Himalayan region easier once the project is completed.
What's confirmed
- The Rishikesh-Karnaprayag rail project has achieved another major milestone with the final breakthrough of Escape Tunnel-1 on September 11, 2026, marking 41 tunnel breakthroughs so far. This significant achievement is a testament to the technical expertise and perseverance of all stakeholders involved, according to the Ministry of Railways.
- The project, developed by Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) at a cost of Rs 37,000 crore, is being constructed through challenging Himalayan geological conditions, including thick mylonite zones and highly tectonized rock formations. The tunnel, 10.847 km long, is the second-longest in the project and has been completed despite adverse geological conditions.
- According to RVNL Chairman and Managing Director Saleem Ahmad, the project has achieved 78 per cent overall progress, with around 97 per cent of the tunnel excavation completed. Only five more breakthroughs are expected to be completed within the next year, bringing the project closer to its completion and improving rail connectivity in Uttarakhand.
- The successful completion of the 10-kilometer escape tunnel at Dhalwala, marking the 22nd successful breakthrough for the 125-kilometer Rishikesh-Karnaprayag line, is a significant engineering milestone. This achievement is expected to make travel to the Himalayan region easier once the project is completed.
What's still developing
- The final breakthrough has connected the tunnel along its entire length.
- The tunnel passes through highly tectonized, multi-folded and extensively faulted rock formations, with widespread shearing and locally intense crushing.
- The company successfully completed a 10-kilometer escape tunnel at Dhalwala, which is the 22nd tunnel to be breached out of the 28 planned for the entire route.