Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) on Wednesday issued tenders for the construction of eight stations on the strategically important Rishikesh-Karnaprayag rail line. The tenders cover four stations each from packages two and three of the project. Companies can submit bids until October 28, and the tenders will be opened on November 21. Work is expected to begin in January 2026.
Under package two, the stations to be constructed include Devprayag, Janasu, Maletha, and Srinagar, while package three includes Dhari Devi, Tilni, Gholtir, and Gauchar. Deputy General Manager (Civil) of RVNL, OP Malgudi, stated that the estimated cost for package two is Rs 163.45 crore and Rs 126.16 crore for package three.
Meanwhile, tenders for Karnaprayag, the largest terminal station on the line, will be issued on November 20. The station will feature 26 rail lines, with construction expected to begin in June 2026.
Work is already underway at Shivpuri and Vyasi stations, while Virbhadra and Yog Nagari Rishikesh stations have been completed and are operational. Excavation for 10 km of tunnels is yet to be completed, and survey work for track laying is ongoing.
Rishikesh-Karnaprayag Rail Project at a Glance:
-Total cost: Rs 16,216 crore
-Project length: 126 km, with 105 km passing through 17 tunnels
-Longest tunnel: 14.08 km (between Devprayag and Janasu)
-Shortest tunnel: 200 metres (between Sevai and Karnaprayag)
-11 tunnels exceed six km in length
-Total stations: 13, including Virbhadra, Yog Nagari Rishikesh, Shivpuri, Vyasi, Devprayag, Janasu, Maletha, Srinagar (Chauras), Dhari Devi, Rudraprayag (Sumerpur), Gholtir, Gauchar, and Karnaprayag (Sevai)
The project, which began in 2019, is slated for completion by 2026 and is expected to significantly enhance connectivity in the region.