Rishikesh–Karanprayag Rail Project To Repurpose Escape Tunnels As Roads, Govt Says

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has directed officials to explore converting escape tunnels constructed alongside the Rishikesh–Karanprayag rail line into parallel roads, aiming to enhance road connectivity, disaster management, and local traffic in the Himalayan region. During a high-level review meeting at the state Secretariat on February 11, 2026, Dhami instructed the preparation of a detailed future utilization plan for these tunnels. Described as a visionary approach by infrastructure experts, the initiative seeks to maximize long-term benefits from infrastructure built primarily for railway safety, allowing escape tunnels—designed for emergency evacuation—to serve dual purposes as functional roadways where feasible.

The Rishikesh–Karanprayag rail project, a key component of the broader Char Dham Railway initiative, spans approximately 125 km and is designed to significantly reduce travel time to pilgrimage sites such as Kedarnath and Badrinath. Progress stands at 72.5% overall completion, with tunnel construction reaching an impressive 95.3%. The project features 28 tunnels in total: 16 main tunnels spanning about 105 km and 12 parallel escape tunnels covering roughly 98 km, making the corridor predominantly underground to navigate the challenging Himalayan terrain. Advanced techniques, including Tunnel Boring Machines, have been employed for segments like the record-breaking 14.57 km Janasu Tunnel.

Escape tunnels run parallel to the main railway tunnels and are essential for passenger safety during emergencies, providing evacuation routes and ventilation. The proposal to repurpose them as parallel roads reflects Uttarakhand's strategy to address frequent landslides, road blockages, and natural disasters in the hills. By developing these tunnels for vehicular use, the state could create alternative routes that improve resilience and provide relief to existing highways, which often face seasonal disruptions. Officials have been tasked with assessing technical, structural, and regulatory feasibility to ensure safe integration without compromising the primary rail function.

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The railway stations along the route are being themed around Uttarakhand's cultural and spiritual heritage, including designs inspired by Neelkanth Mahadev at Shivpuri, Maharishi Ved Vyas at Byasi, Samudra Manthan at Devprayag, Kedarnath at Tilni, Badrinath and Radha-Krishna at Karnaprayag, and others such as Maa Dhari Devi and Maa Raj Rajeshwari. This thematic approach aims to enhance the pilgrimage experience while boosting tourism. The project is executed in multiple packages, with companies like MEIL handling critical tunnelling segments using methods suited to fragile Himalayan geology.

The directive also ties into broader rail expansion plans, with Dhami pushing for extensions from Karnaprayag to Bageshwar and advocating for national project status for the Tanakpur–Bageshwar line to accelerate connectivity between Garhwal and Kumaon regions. As the Rishikesh–Karanprayag line nears completion, the dual-use tunnel concept could set a precedent for future infrastructure in disaster-prone mountainous areas, balancing railway development with improved all-weather road access for local communities and pilgrims.

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