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World's highest railway station planned in Ladakh

By · Published by Everything Blog

In short

The proposed Bilaspur-Manali-Leh railway route involves constructing roughly 270 kilometres of track through underground tunnels across complex, high-altitude terrain. A completed Detailed Project Report estimates the ambitious initiative will cost approximately Rs 1.31 lakh crore. In addition to technical and environmental challenges, the project faces land acquisition issues common to regional rail developments. Official construction approval and an exact completion timeline have not yet been granted.

Key points

  • The corridor is designated as a strategic asset to ensure continuous transport when local…: The corridor is designated as a strategic asset to ensure continuous transport when local roads and flights face winter disruptions.
  • At roughly 5,256 metres, the proposed facility would stand higher than China's current re…: At roughly 5,256 metres, the proposed facility would stand higher than China's current record-holding Tanggula station at 5,068 metres.
  • Formal construction approval remains pending as planners confront major funding, environm…: Formal construction approval remains pending as planners confront major funding, environmental, and regional land acquisition hurdles.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

India's proposed railway station could break China's world record

The biggest attraction of the proposed railway corridor is the station planned beneath the Tanglang La mountain pass in Ladakh, a TOI report stated. At an elevation of around 5,256 metres, the proposed station would be significantly higher than China's Tanggula railway station on the Qinghai-Tibet Railway. The Chinese station is situated at approximately 5,068 metres above sea level and is currently recognised as the world's highest railway station. The proposed Indian station would exceed that elevation by nearly 188 metres.Tanglang La is already a challenging high-altitude location on the Manali-Leh highway. However, establishing a railway station in this mountainous region would require far more complex engineering and infrastructure than building a motorable road.

489-km railway line will pass through 270 km of tunnels

The Bilaspur-Manali-Leh railway corridor is expected to cover approximately 489 km, connecting several important towns and settlements across Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh. The proposed route will pass through Bilaspur, Sundernagar, Mandi, Manali, Sissu, Darcha, Keylong, Sarchu, Pang, Rumtse, Upshi and Kharu before reaching Leh.

One of the…

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