India: Rishikesh-Karnaprayag Railway Line

In the Himalayan region of Uttarakhand, India, FS Engineering, in Joint Venture with the Swiss company Lombardi, is involved in the construction of the Rishikesh-Karnaprayag railway line and, in particular, in Packages 1 and 8, for which the Joint Venture has been awarded the Design and Project Management Consultancy (PMC) services.

The new railway line, extending over 125 km and featuring 12 stations, is predominantly underground, with 105 km distributed across 17 tunnels. The alignment runs parallel to the course of the Ganges River, penetrating deep into the Himalayan mountain range.

The successful completion of the excavation of the Package 1 Escape Tunnel, carried out using conventional tunnelling methods, marks a significant milestone in the progress of the project's underground works and a decisive step towards the completion of all underground activities within Package 1.

Running parallel to the Main Tunnel, the Escape Tunnel will form an essential component of the permanent railway infrastructure, supporting emergency evacuation procedures, operational railway safety, as well as inspection and maintenance activities.

The achievement of full continuity through the Escape Tunnel will also improve underground access and logistics, facilitating the completion of the Main Tunnel excavation works, whose final breakthrough is currently expected in January 2027.

This project represents far more than a new transport infrastructure. It reflects FS Engineering's commitment to advancing innovation, engineering expertise and infrastructure resilience in one of the world's most challenging geographical and environmental settings, contributing to the development of a strategic railway connection that will enhance mobility and connectivity across the entire region.