India has achieved a key milestone in the Rishikesh-Karnaprayag Railway Project with the breakthrough of Tunnel No. 8, set to become the country’s longest transport tunnel at 14.58 km. This engineering feat surpasses all existing rail and road tunnels in the nation and marks significant progress in boosting connectivity across Uttarakhand’s hill districts.

The tunnel is part of the 125-km broad gauge line that will connect towns like Devprayag, Srinagar, Rudraprayag, Gauchar, and Karnaprayag, enhancing access to pilgrimage sites and promoting tourism and trade. The project spans five districts and is expected to reduce travel time significantly.

Constructed in the challenging Himalayan terrain, the railway includes 213.57 km of tunnels—16 main tunnels, 12 escape tunnels, and several cross passages—with 195 km already completed. This is Indian Railways’ first successful use of a Tunnel Boring Machine in the Himalayas.

Despite geological challenges and heavy water inflows, work is progressing steadily. Major bridges and support infrastructure are already in place, with track-laying and electrification scheduled to begin soon. The entire project is targeted for completion by 2026–27