Rail Boost for Uttarakhand: 18 New Trains, ₹40,000 Cr Projects and Major Connectivity Push

Dehradun, March 18, 2026 (YNA): In a major push to rail infrastructure and connectivity in Uttarakhand, the Government of India has launched 18 new train services in the state between 2023–24 and 2025–26 (up to February 2026), Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw informed the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.

Responding to questions raised by MPs Trivendra Singh Rawat and Ajay Bhatt, the minister highlighted significant progress in railway projects across Uttarakhand, including increased budget allocation, new rail lines, and station redevelopment initiatives.

Massive Budget Increase for Rail Infrastructure

Vaishnaw stated that budgetary allocation for infrastructure and safety works in Uttarakhand has seen a sharp rise. While the average annual expenditure during 2009–14 stood at ₹187 crore, it has surged to approximately ₹4,641 crore in 2025–26—an increase of nearly 25 times.

₹40,384 Crore Worth New Rail Projects

As of April 1, 2025, three new railway lines—covering a total length of 216 km—have been approved in Uttarakhand at an estimated cost of ₹40,384 crore. So far, 16 km of railway lines have been commissioned, with ₹19,898 crore already spent.

Among the key projects:

• The Deoband–Roorkee rail line (27 km) has been completed, reducing the distance between Delhi and Dehradun by around 40 km.
• The ambitious Rishikesh–Karnaprayag rail project (125 km) is progressing rapidly, connecting key districts like Dehradun, Tehri Garhwal, Pauri Garhwal, Rudraprayag, and Chamoli.

This परियोजना includes extensive tunneling work, with 16 main tunnels (104 km) and 12 escape tunnels (98 km). So far, 99 km of main tunnels and 94 km of escape tunnels have been completed. Out of 19 major bridges, 8 are complete, while the rest are under construction.

Surveys, Bridges and Safety Works

Over the past three years, seven surveys covering 441 km have been sanctioned, including three new lines and four doubling projects.

Railway safety infrastructure has also expanded significantly. Across India, 4,802 Road Over Bridges (ROBs) and Road Under Bridges (RUBs) have been sanctioned, including 9 in Uttarakhand worth ₹158 crore. Between 2014 and 2026, a total of 14,024 such bridges were constructed nationwide, including 106 in Uttarakhand.

Station Redevelopment Under Amrit Bharat Scheme

Under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, 11 railway stations in Uttarakhand are being redeveloped. These include Dehradun, Haridwar, Harrawala, Kashipur, Kathgodam, Kichha, Kotdwar, Lalkuan, Ramnagar, Roorkee, and Tanakpur.

The योजना focuses on modern passenger amenities such as upgraded waiting halls, lifts, escalators, parking, facilities for Divyang passengers, and improved information systems. A total of ₹6,895 crore has been allocated for station development under Northern and North Eastern Railway zones, with ₹6,172 crore already utilized.

18 New Train Services Introduced

To improve passenger convenience, Indian Railways has introduced 18 new train services in Uttarakhand over the last three years. Key services include:

• Lucknow–Dehradun Vande Bharat Express
• Dorai–Tanakpur Express
• Haridwar–Firozpur Cantt Express

The Ministry clarified that new train services are introduced based on route capacity, availability of rolling stock, and operational feasibility.

Focus on Better Connectivity

The government emphasized that railway development in Uttarakhand is being carried out at a fast pace, including construction of new lines, tunnels, bridges, and station modernization. These efforts aim to significantly enhance connectivity, especially in the state’s remote and hilly regions.