First Tunnel Breakthrough Marks Major Milestone In Rishikesh-Karnaprayag Rail Project

The ambitious Rishikesh-Karnaprayag railway project in Uttarakhand crossed a major construction milestone on Friday as engineers achieved the breakthrough of its first escape tunnel at Dhalwala in Tehri district.

The breakthrough was achieved when the two ends of the 10-km escape tunnel between Dhalwala and Neer Gaddu finally connected, prompting officials, engineers and technical teams at the site to applaud and congratulate one another.

Tunnel construction is among the most challenging parts of the project because of the difficult Himalayan terrain and complex geological conditions. The latest breakthrough is therefore significant for the progress of the railway corridor, which is being built to improve connectivity across the mountainous region.

Project Manager Nishith Sharma said construction was progressing steadily while following the required technical standards and safety protocols. Around 1,000 personnel are working round-the-clock to speed up construction, he said.

Deputy General Manager (Civil) OP Malgudi said the project was more than an effort to build a railway line and described it as an ambitious initiative aimed at transforming transport infrastructure in Uttarakhand.

The 125-km railway project involves the construction of 28 tunnels, underlining the scale of the engineering challenge posed by the mountainous terrain. Of these, 22 tunnels have already been completed by Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL).

The project is expected to provide a faster and more reliable rail connection between Rishikesh and the upper Himalayan region, while reducing dependence on road travel through difficult terrain. Its progress is being closely watched because better connectivity is considered important for residents, tourism and movement in the hill districts.

The completion of the first escape tunnel at Dhalwala adds to the growing list of construction milestones on a project that requires extensive tunnelling and specialised engineering to negotiate Uttarakhand's rugged landscape.