Char Dham Yatra Rail Line of Devprayag, Gauchar, Srinagar, Rudraprayag, and Karnaprayag will be connected by the train route.
Budget The proposed rail line is expected to be completed by December 2024. In response to a question in the Rajya Sabha earlier this month, Railways Minister Ashwini Viashnaw stated that the Rishikesh-Karnaprayag new line project will be completed with an estimated budget of Rs 16,216 crore.
Of the total budget, Rs 6618 crore has been spent and an outlay of Rs 4200 crore has been allocated a budget for the 2021-22 financial year. The Rishikesh – Karanprayag railways line was sanctioned in the 2010-2011 budget.
The minister added that the process of land acquisition and forest clearance for the projects had been completed and the railway had also received ‘No Objection Certificates from the gram sabha located along the route. The schemes for the compensation as well as rehabilitation of the affected families have been provided as per the provisions given in three Schedules of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation, and Resettlement Act, 2013, Vaishnav told the Rajya Sabha.
Devprayag, Gauchar, Srinagar, Rudraprayag, and Karnaprayag will be served by the rail line.
New lines proposed
The Char Dham Railway has two Y-shaped railways, with a total of four individual rail lines
C. Gangotri-Yamunotri spurs: The main spur will lead to Gangotri, where it will Y-fork to another spur leading to Yamunotri.
A1. Railway Doiwala-Dehradun-Uttarkashi-Maneri Gangotri Doiwala, Sangatiyawala Khurd, Sarangdharwala, Ampata, Maror, Kandisaur, Chinyalisaur, Dunda,
Athali Junction, Ladari, and Maneri will be among the 11 stations along the 131-kilometer route.
Pilgrims will be transported by road from Maneri to Harsil-Gangotri via the NH-34.
This will bring the Gangotri railway and India-China border area of Nelang Valley,
which is currently under India’s operational control. The distance from Maneri to Gangotri is 84 kilometers.
The Char Dham Railway
C2. The Uttarkashi-Palar Yamunotri Railway will be 22 kilometers long.
Athali Junction has a “Y” fork connection from the Gangotri railway above Palar railway station, from which pilgrims will take the road and track to Yamunotri.
The distance from Palar to Yamunotri is 42 kilometers.
D. Kedarnath-Badrinath spurs: The main spur will lead to Kedarnath, where it will Y-fork for another spur leading to Badrinath.
Karnaprayag-Saikot-SonprayagD1. Kedarnath Railway Company The 99-kilometer route will include seven stations:
Karnaprayag, Siwai, Saikot Junction, Bairath, Chopta, Makkumath, and Sonprayag near Gaurikund.
The distance between Sonprayag and Kedarnath is 19 kilometers.
The first 6 kilometers from Sonprayag to Gaurikund are paved and motorable,
but the remaining 13-14 kilometers are a mountainous track that must be completed on foot, by palanquin, or by pony-back.
D2. Railway Saikot-Joshimath-Badrinath, The 75-kilometer-long route will connect
the Kedarnath railway above Joshimath via a “Y” fork connection at Saikot.There will be four stations: Saikot Junction, Tripak, Tartoli, and Joshimath.
Pilgrims will use the existing all-weather road to travel the 37 kilometers from Joshimath to Badrinath.
By bringing the railway network closer to the disputed India-China border area of Bara Hoti valley,which is currently under India’s operational control,
it will be easier to supply equipment and troops to that border post.
Nota bene: The Rishikesh-Karnaprayag Railway is a new railway link extension from the existing
Rishikesh railway station to Karnaprayag is currently under construction.
Srinagar,Dhari,Rudraprayag, Gholtir, Gauchar,and Karnaprayag will be among the 11 stations.Challenges 3D Architecture
Due to the mountainous terrain, a large number of tunnels and high bridges,
and severe cold weather in floods, landslides, and earthquake-prone high-altitude mountainous areas,
this line will be the most challenging railway project in Indian Railways after the Konkan Railway,
Hassan-Mangalore line, and Jammu-Baramulla line.
