Char Dham Railway Under-Construction Work
The Char Dham Railway, the Indian Railways's under-construction 453 km long railway lines network for connecting the holiest places of Hinduism called Chota Char Dham, includes two set of y-fork shaped rail links, first the A1 "Rishikesh–Karnaprayag-Karnaprayag–Saikot–Sonprayag Kedarnath Railway" from the existing Yog Nagari Rishikesh railway station to Kedarnath (Sonprayag railhead) with a A2 "Saikot–Joshimath Badrinath Railway" fork (Joshimath railhead), and second B1 Doiwala–Dehradun–Uttarkashi–Maneri Gangotri Railway from the Dehradun's existing Doiwala railway station to Gangotri (Maneri railhead) with a B2 Uttarkashi–Palar Yamunotri Railway (Palar railhead) fork. The line is also of strategic military importance and has been designated a national project.
The Char Dham Railway has two different Y-shaped railways, with total of the following four individual rail lines:
- "Rishikesh-Kedarnath–Badrinath rail link" taking off from the existing Rishikesh railway station to Karnaprayag and going towards Kedarnath ((terminating at Sonprayag railhead few kilometers before Kedarnath), with a fork towards Badrinath ((terminating at Joshimath railhead few kilometers before Badrinath).
- "Doiwala-Gangotri–Yamunotri rail link" taking off from the existing railway Doiwala railway station and going towards Gangotri (terminating at Maneri railhead few kilometers before Gangotri), with a fork towards Yamunotri (terminating at Palar railhead few kilometers before Yamunotri).
A. Rishikesh-Kedarnath–Badrinath railway
Rishikesh-Karanprayag-Saikot-Kedarnath main spur will go to Kedarnath which will also Y–fork at Saikot for another spur to Badrinath.
A1. Rishikesh–Karnaprayag line
125.2 km, from existing Yog Nagari Rishikesh railway station to Karnaprayag with following stations (1 existing and 10 new): Rishikesh, Shivpuri, Byasi, Devprayag, Maletha, Srinagar, Dhari, Rudraprayag, Gholtir, Gauchar, Karnaprayag.
A2. Karnaprayag–Saikot–Sonprayag Kedarnath Railway
99 km long route will have the following 7 stations: Karnaprayag, Siwai, Saikot Junction, Bairath, Chopta, Makkumath and Sonprayag near Gaurikund. The distance from Sonprayag to Kedarnath is 19 km. The 6 km stretch from Sonprayag to Gaurikund is paved and motorable, whereas the remaining 13-14 km is a mountainous track, which must be done either on foot, or by palanquin, or on pony-back.
A3. Saikot–Joshimath Badrinath Railway (spur from A2)
75 km long route will make a "Y" fork connection at Saikot from the Kedarnath railway above to Joshimath. It will have the following 4 stations: Saikot Junction, Tripak, Tartoli and Joshimath. Pilgrims will travel the 37 km from Joshimath to Badrinath by the existing all-weather road. This will take the railway network closer to the disputed India-China border area of Bara Hoti valley, which is currently in India's operational control, and make it easier to supply equipment and troops to that border post.
B. Doiwala-Gangotri–Yamunotri railway
"Doiwala-Uttarkashi–Maneri Gangotri" main spur will go to Gangotri which will also Y–fork at Uttarkashi for "Uttarkashi–Palar rail" link spur to Yamunotri.
B1. Doiwala–Dehradun–Uttarkashi–Maneri Gangotri Railway
131 km long route will have the following 11 stations: Doiwala, Sangatiyawala Khurd, Sarangdharwala, Ampata, Maror, Kandisaur, Chinyalisaur, Dunda, Athali Junction, Ladari and Maneri. Pilgrims will use the road transport from Maneri to Harsil-Gangotri via NH-34. This will take the railway and Char Dham road highway at Gangotri closer to the large disputed India-China border area of Nelang Valley which is currently in India's operational control. Maneri to Gangotri is further 84 km.
B2. Uttarkashi–Palar Yamunotri Railway (spur from B1)
22 km long route will make a "Y" fork connection at Athali Junction from the Gangotri railway above to reach Palar railway station, from where pilgrims will take road and track to Yamunotri. Palar to Yamunotri is a further 42 km.