A major railway project through the Himalayas is expected to transform travel to Uttarakhand’s pilgrimage destinations and improve connectivity across the Garhwal region. The proposed Meerut–Rishikesh Namo Bharat corridor and the under-construction Rishikesh–Karnaprayag railway line could significantly reduce journey times from Delhi to the Char Dham route.
The 127-kilometre Rishikesh–Karnaprayag railway project will include approximately 105 kilometres of tunnels carved through the mountains. Experts describe it as one of the most ambitious railway initiatives undertaken in the Himalayan region.
Once the Namo Bharat corridor becomes operational, passengers could reportedly reach Rishikesh from Delhi within two to two-and-a-half hours. The rail connection from Rishikesh to Karnaprayag could then reduce the journey to around two-and-a-half hours. As a result, the total travel time from Delhi to Karnaprayag may fall from nearly 13 hours to approximately five or six hours.
The 10-kilometre Escape Tunnel-1 was fully opened on September 11, taking the project’s overall progress to nearly 75 per cent. Officials expect train services to begin by 2029, while a portion of the route could open as early as 2028.
The railway will pass through Dehradun, Tehri Garhwal, Pauri Garhwal, Rudraprayag and Chamoli districts. Twelve stations are planned, including Rishikesh, Muni Ki Reti, Shivpuri, Byasi, Devprayag, Srinagar Garhwal, Tilani, Gauchar and Karnaprayag.
Although trains will not reach Kedarnath or Badrinath directly, pilgrims will benefit from shorter road journeys. Improved connectivity is also expected to support agriculture, trade, tourism and local economic development across the mountainous region.
