Char Dham Rail Project is the much-awaited dream construction project in the history of India. Have you ever dreamt of gliding effortlessly through the Himalayas, witnessing the serenity of sacred shrines? The Char Dham Railway Project by the Indian government and Indian railways aims to turn this dream into reality.
The Char Dham train route project will connect all the Char Dhams of Uttarakhand by railway line. This marvelous construction project will join Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath from Haridwar, Rishikesh, and Dehradun. In this section, we will discuss the Char Dham train route along with other important updates.
What is the Char Dham Railway Project Status?
The Char Dham Rail project was proposed due to the increasing number of pilgrims on the Char Dham Yatra every year and the challenges in the hilly region. The state government of Uttarakhand instructed the Centre to initiate a single tunnel project to connect Dehradun to Yamunotri and Gangotri by rail and road.
After the Char Dham Railway Project completion date, the India-China border will be closer to the rest of India by railways. This will significantly reduce the time taken to reach the strategic border military stations from Delhi and also aid the transport of personnel and equipment.
Char Dham Train Route
| Railway Line | Route | Length (km) | Stations | Dham(s) Covered | Status |
| A1. Doiwala-Dehradun-Uttarkashi-Maneri Gangotri | Doiwala – Maneri | 131 | 11 | Gangotri | Under Construction |
| A2. Maneri – Yamunotri (Spur from A1) | Maneri – Yamunotri | 46 | 5 | Yamunotri | On Hold |
| B1. Karnaprayag-Saikot-Sonprayag Kedarnath | Karnaprayag – Sonprayag | 99 | 7 | Kedarnath | Under Construction |
| B2. Saikot-Joshimath Badrinath (Spur from B1) | Saikot – Joshimath | 75 | 4 | Badrinath | Under Construction |
The Kedarnath railway project consists of two main Y-shaped railway lines. Each line in the Char Dham train route connects with two Dhams: Gangotri-Yamunotri and Kedarnath-Badrinath.
The distance from Sonprayag to Kedarnath is 19 km and from Joshimath to Badrinath is 17 km, requiring further transportation. The Char Dham highway project is facing challenges due to difficult terrain, high altitude, and environmental concerns. Further, the Yamunotri spur (A2) on the Char Dham Rail project is currently on hold due to environmental concerns.
Char Dham Railway Project Update
- Rishikesh-Karanprayag railway project’s current status is under construction. The 125km line has achieved 17% progress. Tunneling work is ongoing at several locations as updated on Feb 15, 2024, by the railway Vikas Nigam Limited.
- The Karnaprayag-Joshimath Line (99 km) has been granted environmental clearance. However, the Detailed Project Report is still under preparation as updated in December 2023.
- The 92 km long Karnaprayag-Sonprayag Line and Doiwala-Uttarkashi Line (102 km) had their feasibility study completed by March 2023 and Jan 2024 respectively.
- The detailed project report of the Uttarkashi-Barkot Line is still pending. This line will be approximately 82 km long.
- The overall Char Dham rail project cost is around ₹74,000 Crore.
- The Char Dham railway project deadline for the entire project is yet to be confirmed.
Conclusion
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And speaking of impressive projects, have you heard about the Mumbai Atal Setu? It’s a massive bridge that’s become a Superstructure of Bharat. It’s got a cool story, a path that connects two big cities, and it is a construction marvel. Check out all the details like its history, route, and cost to see why it’s such a big deal.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Char Dham rail project will likely be finished by the end of 2024 and open for tourists in 2025. The first Kedarnath railway project has been constructed and work for tunnels and bridges is being paced up.
The Char Dham Railway consists of two different railway lines: one taking off from the existing railhead at Doiwala and going towards Gangotri, with a fork towards Yamunotri. the other taking off from the forthcoming railhead at Karnaprayag and going towards Kedarnath, with a fork towards Badrinath.
Construction work of about 601 km on the 825-km ‘Char Dham Yatra All Weather Road’ has been completed.
The Char Dham train name is the Bharat Gaurav Deluxe AC Tourist Train. It will take the pilgrims on the yatra and has a host of features, including two fine dining restaurants, a modern kitchen, shower cubicles in AC I and II coaches, sensor-based washroom functions, and foot massagers.
The nearest railway station to holy char dham is Dehradun, at a distance of 114 km. Dehradun is well connected by rail to major cities in India. Alternatively, one can also travel up to Haridwar or Rishikesh, which have good rail connectivity and travel by road to Gangotri.
