TLDR;
The video discusses the ambitious Bilaspur-Manali-Leh railway line project, poised to be India's most expensive and challenging railway undertaking. This 465 km line will connect Himachal Pradesh to Ladakh, enhancing connectivity, reducing commodity costs, and bolstering defense capabilities. The project includes numerous tunnels and bridges, with unique features like an underground station at Keylong and coaches designed for high-altitude conditions.
- The Bilaspur-Manali-Leh railway line will be the world's highest railway line at 5360 meters above sea level.
- The project is strategically important for defense, improving connectivity to Ladakh.
- The railway line will feature advanced engineering, including a 27 km long tunnel and coaches with pressurized cabins and heaters.
Introduction to the Ladakh Railway Project [0:02]
Indian Railways is planning a railway line up to Ladakh, following the success of the Udhampur Srinagar Baramulla rail link (USBRL) in Jammu and Kashmir. This new line is expected to be India's most expensive rail project and a significant engineering challenge. The construction of the USBRL involved building the world's highest railway arch bridge, the Chenab Bridge, and India's first cable-stayed bridge.
Project Overview and Strategic Importance [0:49]
The focus is now on the 465 km Bilaspur-Manali-Leh railway line, connecting Bilaspur in Himachal Pradesh to Leh in Ladakh. The line will pass through Sundernagar, Mandi, Manali, Keylong, Koksar, Darcha, Upshi, and Karo. The estimated cost for this project is ₹1.31 lakh crore, making it the most expensive railway project in India's history. The project is strategically important for India's defense, improving connectivity to Ladakh and reducing the cost of essential commodities. Raw materials like cement are currently expensive in Ladakh due to high transportation costs.
Project Finalization and Key Features [1:37]
Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw confirmed that the detailed project report (DPR) for the Bilaspur-Manali-Leh new line project has been finalized. The Defense Ministry has identified this project as a strategic line due to its location partially within the Union Territory of Ladakh. Work on the Bhanupalli-Bilaspur railway line project, the first phase of this larger project, is progressing rapidly, with many tunnels and bridges already constructed. The initial survey indicates that the entire route will include 74 tunnels, 124 large bridges, and 396 small bridges, with a total of 37 stations.
Unique Engineering and Passenger Comfort [2:25]
Keylong station in Lahaul Spiti district will be an underground station. Approximately 52% of the railway line will pass through tunnels, with the longest tunnel being 27 km long in Keylong. Sleeper class coaches will not be installed due to the high altitude and cold weather; instead, heaters will be installed in every coach. The coaches will also feature pressurized cabins, similar to airplanes, to maintain balanced oxygen levels in high-altitude areas.
Safety Measures and Project Updates [3:04]
Railways have implemented several precautionary measures to ensure the project's safety and smooth operation, minimizing the impact of landslides, cloudbursts, and avalanches. Officials believe that even in adverse conditions, train delays will be limited to a maximum of 2 to 3 hours due to a significant portion of the line running through tunnels. The completion of the DPR for this line was announced in 2023, with an estimated cost of around ₹1 lakh crore at that time, but further updates are awaited.
Route Details and Geographical Challenges [3:35]
The Bilaspur-Manali-Leh road starts from Beri and passes through Sundernagar, Mandi, Manali, Sissu, Darcha, Keylong, Sarchu, Pang, Rumtse, Upshi, and Kharu before ending at Leh, connecting major cities in Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh. The Railways plan to have 40 stations along this route. A ministry official noted that this project is one of the most challenging rail projects in India, with over half of the route passing through tunnels. The railway line will traverse the Shivalik, Great Himalayan, and Zanskar mountain ranges, at altitudes ranging from 600 meters to 5,300 meters above sea level.
Seismic Considerations and Strategic Significance [4:40]
The area falls within seismic zones Four and V, necessitating the construction of numerous tunnels, deep viaducts, and bridges. The Bilaspur-Manali-Leh Railway is one of the four strategic lines identified by the Ministry of Defence along the Indo-China border. The other three lines are Misamari-Tenga-Tawang (378 km), Basighat-Teju-Rupai (227 km), and North Lakhimpur-Kheri-Along-Sila Bathur (249 km). The Ministry of Defence has provided funds to the Ministry of Railways for the final location survey of these strategic lines.
Project Scale and Global Comparison [5:20]
The railway line is 465 km long and, upon completion, will be the highest railway line in the world, reaching a height of 5360 meters above sea level. It can be compared to the Kanghai Tibet Railway Line in China, which is also located at a high altitude of 2000 meters above sea level. The railway line will pass through the 5360-meter-high Tanglang La Pass and will include 30 stations near the India-China Tibet border.
Station Locations and Tunnel Engineering [5:58]
The line connecting Bilaspur and Leh will pass through Sundernagar, Mandi, Manali, Keylong, Koksar, Darcha, Upshi, and Karu. For the first time in the country, a railway station will be built inside a tunnel at an altitude of 3000 meters above sea level in Himachal Pradesh. While metro rail projects in cities like Delhi have underground stations, Keylong will be the first railway station on the main railway line to be built inside a tunnel. 52% of this 465 km long railway line will pass through tunnels, with the longest tunnel being 27 km.
Construction Details and Cost [6:33]
The total distance inside tunnels will be 244 km. The first phase survey indicates the construction of 74 tunnels, 124 large bridges, and 396 culverts. The final location survey of this railway line will cost ₹457.72 crore and will be completed in three phases, involving the design of an elevation model, evaluation, alignment, and geological inspection of the tunnel. The train will run at a speed of 75 km/hour on this rail section.
Travel Time Reduction and Strategic Benefits [7:18]
After the construction of this railway line, the travel time between Delhi and Leh will be reduced from 40 hours to 20 hours. The railway line will provide significant assistance to the security forces. Additionally, increased tourism in the Ladakh region will lead to rapid development in the area. The railway line will reach Leh via Bhanupalli, Bilaspur, Beri, Mandi, and Manali, and will be constructed as a national project. The first phase of the survey for the construction of the railway line has been completed.
Environmental Considerations and Current Status [7:50]
The 465 km Bilaspur-Manali-Leh railway line is expected to be eco-friendly, with trains running on electricity generated in Himachal. This pollution-free railway line will not pose a threat to the environment. The Railway Department has started working on the project, with teams conducting geological mapping of the rail track to assess the strength of the land. Four different teams are working on this project from Leh to Bilaspur.