Engineering marvel: Uttarakhand gets Indias longest rail tunnel connecting Rishikesh with Karnprayag, completed before schedule
India's longest railway tunnel, 14.57 km long, built between Devprayag and Janasu in Uttarakhand, is now ready. It is part of the Rishikesh-Karnprayag rail project and has been completed 1.25 years ahead of schedule using TBM technology, a first in the Himalayas.
Rishikesh: In a major achievement for Indian Railways, the country’s longest railway tunnel — stretching 14.57 kilometers — has been successfully completed between Devprayag and Janasu in Uttarakhand.
The tunnel is part of the Rishikesh-Karnprayag rail project, which aims to provide rail connectivity to the Garhwal region and boost both tourism and regional development.
This tunnel has been completed 1.25 years ahead of schedule
The most remarkable aspect of this tunnel's construction is that it was completed 1.25 years ahead of schedule. The original deadline for completion was mid-2026, but the tunnel work finished on April 16, 2025, thanks to the joint efforts of Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) and infrastructure giant Larsen & Toubro (L&T). Ajit Yadav, General Manager, RVNL, said to ANI that this is the longest rail tunnel in India.
First time use of tunnel boring machine in this hills
What makes this tunnel even more special is the first-time use of Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) technology in the Himalayan region for a railway tunnel. TBMs are giant machines used to excavate tunnels with high precision and speed, and using them in the fragile Himalayan geology was a bold and technically challenging step.
The use of TBM significantly sped up the construction process. According to L&T officials, around 70% of the tunnel work was done using TBM, while the remaining 30% was completed using traditional drill-and-blast techniques.
Tunnel construction has faced hurdles like landslides
The tunnel project was not without challenges. L&T’s TBM operators Baljinder Singh and Ram Avtar Singh Rana shared that at one point during construction, a sudden landslide occurred inside the tunnel. This created immense pressure on the machine and the team. Normally, the TBM operates at around 50,000 to 60,000 kilo Newton, but during the landslide, it had to be operated at 1.3 lakh kilo Newton. Despite the difficulties, the team managed to keep the machine running day and night in 12-hour shifts for 10 days straight.
Rishikesh-Karnprayag rail project designed to pass through some of the toughest mountainous terrains
The Rishikesh-Karnprayag rail project spans 125 kilometers and includes 30 tunnels in total, designed to pass through some of the toughest mountainous terrains. This rail line is expected to revolutionize travel in Uttarakhand by reducing travel time, improving safety, and providing all-weather connectivity to remote areas.
The rail project will connect the pilgrimage cities of Rishikesh and Karnprayag
When completed by December 2026, the rail project will connect the pilgrimage cities of Rishikesh and Karnprayag, forming a crucial link in the proposed Char Dham Rail Connectivity project. The route will also boost local trade, tourism, and provide easier access to border areas for security forces.
Officials from RVNL stated that the successful and early completion of the Devprayag-Janasu tunnel is a testament to India's growing engineering capabilities and effective project execution, even in some of the world’s most challenging terrains.