Thu Apr 17 01:35:58 UTC 2025: ## India Completes Breakthrough on Longest Rail Tunnel

**Dehradun, Uttarakhand –** A historic breakthrough was achieved on Wednesday, April 16th, 2025, marking a significant milestone in the construction of India’s longest rail tunnel. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami witnessed the breakthrough of Tunnel 8 (T-8) of the Rishikesh-Karnaprayag rail link project at Janasu.

The 14.57-km tunnel, constructed using a German-made tunnel boring machine (TBM) named ‘Shakti,’ is part of the ambitious 125-km Rishikesh-Karnaprayag Broad Gauge Rail Link Project. The breakthrough, achieved from one end of the tunnel while Minister Vaishnaw observed from approximately 3.5 km inside, coincides with the anniversary of the launch of rail services in India in 1853.

The project, overseen by Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL), utilizes cutting-edge technology. RVNL CMD Pradeep Gaur highlighted the use of TBM technology in the challenging Himalayan terrain as a global benchmark. The single-shield TBM’s average excavation rate of 413 meters per month places it among the world’s fastest, second only to the Cabrera tunnel in Spain.

The project faced numerous challenges, including transporting heavy machinery over narrow Himalayan roads and navigating the tectonically active Seismic Zone IV. Construction on the twin tunnel (T-8M) is underway, with completion expected by July.

Upon completion, the Rishikesh-Karnaprayag rail link will significantly reduce travel times and improve all-weather access to remote areas of Uttarakhand, boosting tourism and economic development. It also represents a crucial step towards the completion of the Char Dham rail connectivity initiative. The project’s completion is expected to dramatically improve the lives of those in the region.

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