At 5,360 meters above the sea level, it will be the world’s highest railway line. The project will surpass the Qinghai-Tibet line in China, which is at a height of around 2,000 metres above sea level. The highest road point (Tanglangla Pass) enroute at 5,360 meters will be the highest of any railway in the world and over 50% of the line will be underground with 27-km long tunnel near Manali.

 

 

Important Facts The project has many firsts to its credit. Bilaspur-Manali-Leh rail line to be world’s highest. India’s first underground railway station will be in Keylong. The project will include 74 tunnels, 124 major bridges and 396 minor bridges. Qinghai-Tibet line in China has a height of around 2,000 metres above sea level whereas this project is at 5,360 meters above sea level. It is 465-km long rail line. Elevation will begin from Bilaspur at a height of 500 metre and culminate in Leh at an elevation of 3,215 metre. The highest road point (Tanglangla Pass) enroute at 5,360 meters will be the highest of any railway in the world.

 

 

 

 

 

This project will include 74 tunnels, 124 major bridges and 396 minor bridges, as per the first survey report of the project. Railway is keen to complete the strategic line along the Indo-China border by 2022 and wants the project to be declared national project. The railway has also sought the help of US for satellite imagery to survey the route and they are also planning to use the Lidar method for an understanding of the geology of the entire route. The line will connect Sundernagar, Mandi, Manali, Keylong, Koksar, Darcha, Upshi and Karu and other important towns of Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir enroute.

 

 

 

 

The project is considered strategically important and it is expected that the project will help in providing all weather connectivity to the far-flung areas of Ladakh region. Apart from reducing travel time, the project will help in boosting tourism that will benefit local people.