Char Dham Rail Project: Mountains Carved for Easier Pilgrimage, Elderly Parents Can Now Travel

• Indian Railways is rapidly advancing the Rishikesh-Karnaprayag railway line, a dream project of the Prime Minister, to ease Char Dham pilgrimage.
• The 125 km long railway line will have 105 km of track inside tunnels, with over 70% of tunnel construction already completed.
• Motor bridges connecting railway stations in Srinagar Garhwal, Gauchar, and Kaleshwar have been finished.
• The project includes the country's longest railway tunnel, spanning 14.58 km, and a total of 16 main tunnels and 12 escape tunnels.
• The route will pass through Dehradun, Tehri, Garhwal, Pauri Garhwal, Rudraprayag, and Chamoli districts, enhancing connectivity for pilgrims and locals.

Why It Matters: The Rishikesh-Karnaprayag railway line will soon make Char Dham pilgrimage accessible and boost Uttarakhand's connectivity.