Indian Railways completes NATM tunneling in Rishikesh-Karnprayag line

The development work of the Rishikesh – Karnprayag railway line under Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) package 2 has seen a new achievement. The Larsen & Toubro (L&T) team has made a new record by completing 1,012-meter New Austrian tunneling method (NATM) tunneling between Shivpuri to Beasi in just 26 days, according to Chief Minister of Uttarakhand Pushkar Singh Dhami. Despite difficult geographical conditions, the L&T team has completed this tunneling record. Earlier this month, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw told the media that the Rishikesh – Karanprayag new rail line project was approved in the Railway Budget of 2010-11. The expected cost of the Rishikesh – Karanprayag new rail line project is Rs 16,216 crore, out of which Rs 6,618 crore expenditure has been incurred. An outlay of Rs 4,200 crore has been allocated in 2021-22. In March 2020, the 5.7 km long section from Yog Nagri Rishikesh to Virbhadra was started. According to the minister, beyond 6.0 km, the alignment is mainly in tunnels. Development works at all tunnels, and major bridges have been taken up. The process of land acquisition, and forest clearance in the whole project, has been achieved. The Union Minister said that No Objection Certificates (NOC) have been received from all the Gram Sabhas located along the rail line as specified in the Forest Right Act, 2006 guidelines of the Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC). The Railway Minister said that the compensation schemes and rehabilitation of the affected families have been provided, as per the provisions given in three Schedules of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation, and Resettlement Act (RFCTLARR act) 2013. Image Source Also read: Railways connects longest tunnel T-49 on Katra-Banihal section