Rishikesh-Karnaprayag rail project logs 41st tunnel breakthrough
The Rishikesh-Karnaprayag rail project has recorded its 41st tunnel breakthrough with the completion of Escape Tunnel-1, its second-longest tunnel.
The Rishikesh-Karnaprayag railway project has notched another construction milestone, with the final breakthrough of Escape Tunnel-1 recorded on September 11, 2026. The event takes the total number of tunnel breakthroughs on the line to 41, according to a project update.
Escape Tunnel-1 runs 10.847 km, making it the second-longest tunnel on the project. Its final breakthrough means the tunnel is now connected along its full length.
The excavation was carried out through difficult Himalayan geology. The tunnel passes through highly tectonized, multi-folded and extensively faulted rock formations marked by widespread shearing and locally intense crushing. Because of its proximity to the Main Boundary Thrust, some stretches developed thick mylonite zones, the Ministry of Railways said.
The ministry described the completion of excavation under such conditions as a reflection of the technical expertise, perseverance, teamwork and commitment of all stakeholders involved.
Only five more breakthroughs are expected over the next year, the project update said. The 125-km line is targeted for completion by December 2029.
In August, RVNL Chairman and Managing Director Saleem Ahmad said the project had reached 78 per cent overall progress, with about 97 per cent of tunnel excavation finished. He said the line, once ready, would improve access to the Himalayan region, support the Char Dham pilgrimage corridor, strengthen border connectivity, boost tourism and local economies, and cut travel time in the region.
The project is being executed by Rail Vikas Nigam Limited, a Public Sector Undertaking under the Ministry of Railways, at a cost of Rs 37,000 crore.
Sanctioned in the Union Budget 2010-11, the new line passes through Dehradun, Tehri Garhwal, Pauri Garhwal, Rudraprayag and Chamoli districts. It will link religious destinations such as Devprayag and Karnaprayag with Rishikesh and the national capital. Tunnels form the bulk of the work: 16 main tunnels spanning 104 km and 12 escape tunnels covering around 98 km.