In a landmark achievement for India, the country’s longest rail tunnel, built as part of the 125-km Rishikesh-Karnaprayag Rail Project, has been completed! The feat was achieved after 10 days of non-stop work by two tunnel boring machine (TBM) operators. It marks a big step towards improving connectivity in the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand.
India’s Longest Rail Tunnel Is Finally Complete
According to The Times of India, the 14.57 km long key stretch between Devprayag and Janasu in Uttarakhand, part of the Rishikesh-Karnaprayag Rail Link Project, has finally been completed. This is the longest rail tunnel stretch in India and a key part of the ambitious rail project.
Two TBM operators worked day and night to cut through the difficult Himalayan terrain to make this happen, and that too, ahead of schedule! TBM operators, Baljinder Singh and Ram Avtar Singh Rana, worked round-the-clock in 12-hour shifts for nearly 10 days to make this happen. They are veteran TBM operators with Larsen & Toubro (L&T). While talking to the media, they called the entire experience a “roller coaster ride in the real sense.”
One of the toughest challenges, media reports note, came when a landslide blocked the tunnel 3.5 km inside the mountain. To bypass this issue, they had to run the tunnel-boring machine at full power deep inside the tunnel. This meant they had to operate the machine at nearly 1.3 lakh kilo Newtons of force, instead of the normal 50,000 to 60,000 kilo Newtons of force, to clear the debris.
Also Read: Landslide Near Mansa Devi Hill Halts Train Services On Dehradun-Haridwar Route
More About The Rishikesh-Karnaprayag Rail Project
The Rishikesh-Karnaprayag Rail Project is one of the most prestigious and ambitious projects of the Indian Railways. Stretching entirely through Uttarakhand, the rail link traverses the tough geological conditions and rugged Himalayan terrain. When finished, the Rishikesh-Karnaprayag project is expected to transform connectivity across the hill state.
The 125-km-long line passes through five districts of Uttarakhand–Dehradun, Tehri Garhwal, Pauri Garhwal, Rudraprayag, and Chamoli. The project will enhance access to religious sites like Devprayag and Karnaprayag, while also improving connectivity between tourist spots, Rishikesh, and Delhi.
Also Read: Uttarakhand Mandates Tourist Registration In Mussoorie Amid Traffic, Overcrowding Woes
Are you excited to explore Uttarakhand like never before? Let us know in the comments.
Cover Image Courtesy: X/@Amarrrrz
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