The Logistics Spine: Rishikesh–Karnaprayag

The Rishikesh–Karnaprayag line runs 125.2 km in total, of which 105 km — 84% — is underground. Its centerpiece, Tunnel T-8, is the 14.59 km Janasu–Devprayag tunnel, currently under construction as India's longest rail tunnel.

The line enables movement of a full military division to the Himalayan foothills in under 14 hours, compared with three to five days by road, effectively relocating India's logistics base from the plains at Roorkee and Haridwar deep into Chamoli district.

Its alignment is designed to bypass the landslide-prone Sirobagarh and Lambagarh zones of NH-58, ensuring uninterrupted supply lines toward the Line of Actual Control.

Total expenditure as of January 2026 stands at ₹26,841 crore. The line cuts travel time from Rishikesh to Karnaprayag from roughly seven hours to about two and a half.

Twelve new modern stations are under development — including Yog Nagari Rishikesh, Devprayag, Srinagar, and Rudraprayag — turning pilgrimage hubs into primary commercial terminals.

The rail spine is projected to increase tourist capacity by 30% and acts as the first-phase feeder for the larger Char Dham Railway, with surveys already underway for extensions to Kedarnath and Badrinath.

Consumer goods logistics costs in hill districts are expected to fall 18–22% as a result of the new line.

The line runs on 100% electric traction and uses robotic dewatering systems to manage Himalayan groundwater ingress without disturbing the local water table — engineering choices intended to make it the definitive transformation of the Garhwal region into a global-standard strategic and economic corridor.