my uttarakhand news Bureau
Rishikesh, 13 Mar: A media delegation from Odisha, currently on Uttarakhand tour, organised by the Press Information Bureau (Government of India) in Bhubaneshwar, today visited the Rail Vikas Nigam Limited project site in Rishikesh as part of the ongoing media tour. The visiting journalists were briefed about the progress and significance of the ambitious Rishikesh–Karnaprayag Rail Line Project, which is regarded as one of the most challenging railway infrastructure initiatives in the Himalayan region.
The delegation was received by Om Prakash Malguri, Deputy General Manager (Civil), Rail Vikas Nigam Limited, who apprised the journalists about various aspects of the project and its strategic importance for the state. He informed the delegation that the 125-kilometre-long railway line is being developed at an estimated cost of approximately Rs 37,000 crores and will connect Rishikesh to Karnaprayag through the rugged terrain of the Garhwal Himalayas.
Officials explained that the railway line passes through five districts of Uttarakhand, namely Dehradun, Tehri, Pauri, Rudraprayag and Chamoli, therefore it would significantly strengthen connectivity across the entire Garhwal region. The project is expected to play an important role in improving accessibility to the hill districts while also supporting the state’s tourism and pilgrimage economy.
Highlighting the engineering complexity involved in the project, officials stated that nearly 85 per cent of the rail alignment runs through tunnels, making it one of the most tunnel-intensive railway projects in the country. The project involves the construction of 16 major tunnels with a combined length of over 100 kilometres, in addition to several bridges that will span deep valleys and mountain rivers along the route.
During the visit, the media delegation also gained first-hand experience of the tunnelling work by travelling up to the tunnel stretch leading to the proposed Shivpuri railway station. Walking through the tunnel allowed the journalists to observe the scale of excavation and the precision engineering required to carve railway tunnels through the Himalayan rock formations.
Officials further informed that once the project is completed, the rail line will significantly enhance connectivity to several remote hill districts and provide easier access to major pilgrimage destinations in Uttarakhand. The railway line is also expected to boost tourism, improve mobility and contribute to the socio-economic development of the region.
The media delegation comprised nine senior journalists from Odisha and was accompanied by Mahendra Jena, Assistant Director, and Bikash Ranjan Dalai, Information Assistant, Press Information Bureau, Bhubaneswar. Sanjeev Sundriyal, Assistant Director, Press Information Bureau, Dehradun, was also present during the visit.
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