Breakthrough in Char Dham Tunnel Enhances Connectivity and Tourism

17 Apr 2025 CW Team

A significant milestone has been achieved in improving rail and road connectivity for the Char Dham in Uttarakhand, with the completion of excavation work on the Silkyara Bend-Barkot Road tunnel from both ends. This breakthrough marks a key step forward in enhancing accessibility to the Char Dham Yatra, which attracts pilgrims from across India. The 4.531-km tunnel, part of the Char Dham Yatra development, is expected to reduce the travel distance between Gangotri and Yamunotri by 26 kilometre, offering a much more convenient route for visitors.

The two-lane, bi-directional tunnel, projected to cost approximately Rs 8.53 billion, will allow travellers to pass through it in just five minutes. Its completion is set to boost tourism and provide employment opportunities for locals. The project also includes the construction of the 14.57-km Tunnel No. 8 as part of the Rishikesh-Karnaprayag Broad Gauge Rail Link, a 125-km rail project in Uttarakhand. More than 83 per cent of the alignment for the rail link passes through tunnels, involving over 213 km of tunnelling across both main and escape routes.

The breakthrough was made possible through the use of advanced technology, including a German-made tunnel boring machine (TBM) named 'Shakti,' which set a new global benchmark with its 9.11-meter diameter. The tunnel is still under construction, with the second parallel tunnel expected to be completed by July. The project is expected to be fully operational within 15-18 months. The work on the tunnel faced significant challenges, including the rescue of 41 workers who were trapped for 17 days following a landslide in November 2023. Despite the hardships, many of these workers continue to contribute to the tunnel's completion.

News source: Daily Pioneer

Real Estate

05 Sep 2025

Vitizen Hotels Signs Deal at Manyata Tech Park

Vikram Kamats Hospitality, as part of its ongoing expansion in key metropolitan markets, announced that its material subsidiary, Vitizen Hotels, has signed a long-term lease agreement for a 45-key hotel property at Manyata Tech Park, Bengaluru.Strategically located in the city’s prominent IT hub, the property is well-positioned to serve corporate travelers, business professionals, and long-stay guests. The addition aligns with the company’s asset-light growth model, leveraging long-term leases to expand its footprint in high-demand urban markets.The hotel is expected to strengthen the comp..

CONCOR Signs MoU with BPIPL to Operate Container Terminal at Bhavnagar Port

Container Corporation of India (CONCOR) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bhavnagar Port Infrastructure (BPIPL) on September 4, 2025, in New Delhi to operate and maintain the upcoming container terminal at the northside of Bhavnagar Port, Gujarat.BPIPL had earlier entered into an agreement with the Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB) in September 2024 for the port’s development. Under this arrangement, 235 hectares of land has been leased to BPIPL for 30 years, with provision for expansion by an additional 250 hectares.The new terminal is expected to significantly enhance logistic..

Concord Launches India’s First Indigenous Zero-Emission Rail Propulsion

Concord Control Systems (CCSL), a leader in embedded electronics and critical rail technologies, has announced the development of India’s first fully indigenous zero-emission propulsion system, marking a significant step toward the country’s railway electrification and net-zero goals for 2030.Powered by Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) batteries and featuring a DC chopper-based drive, the propulsion system eliminates idling losses common in diesel engines, offering higher efficiency, lower costs, and zero emissions.What sets this innovation apart is its completely indigenous design. Except for..