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Bhanupli–Leh line
Proposed high elevation railway track in Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The Bhanupli–Leh line, including 63.1 km (39.2 mi) long Bhanupli-Barmana (Bilaspur) link[2] and the 489 km (304 mi) long Bilaspur-Manali-Leh link,[3][4] is an under-construction 552.1 km (343.1 mi) long 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) wide broad-gauge all-weather electrified railway track connecting Bhanupli in Punjab,[5] to Leh in Ladakh.[2][6][7] Passing through seismic zone IV and V at an elevation of 600 m (2,000 ft) to 5,360 m (17,590 ft) above sea level, this geostrategically important track will reduce travel time from New Delhi to Leh to 10 hours,[3][4] which takes 25-40 hours by road.
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Significance
After the Jammu–Baramulla line, the Bhanupli–Leh line will be the most challenging railway project in Indian Railways due to high mountains, a large number of tunnels, high bridges, and severe cold weather.[3] To cater to military logistics needs, the loop line will be constructed at five stations for the exclusive use of military loading and unloading at Sissu, Karu, Debring, Leh, and Sesharthang.[2]
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Details
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Route
The project has 42 new stations, including 5 between Bhaupali to Barmana (Bilaspur) and 37 stations from Bilaspur to Leh and Sarthang.[8][9]
- Punjab
Features
Bilaspur-Manali-Leh rail line, with a total length of 489 km (304 mi), including the 13 km (8.1 mi) Leh-Sasherthang rail link, will cost ₹99,000 crore (~US$12.4 billion). This includes ₹62,000 crore (~US$7.75 billion) for 62 tunnels totaling 270 km (170 mi) in length, 114 major bridges, and 90 minor bridges.[3] [9] Bilaspur-Leh section will have 124 major bridges, 396 minor bridges, and 52% track passing through 74 tunnels (with 27 km long Keylong tunnel being longer). Since this trakc passes through sub-zero cold weather, the coaches will be pressurised to maintain oxygen level and will be heated, but there will be no sleeper class seats. Construction includes structure to mitigate landslides, cloudbursts, and avalanches in the 48% section running outside the tunnels.[9]
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Construction
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Funding
According to the 2022 Detailed Project Report (DPR), project cost will exceed ₹1 lakh crore. Total 2200 hectares land, including 572 hectares (26%), will be acquired at the cost of ₹11,500 crore. Bridges and tunnels will cost ₹62,000 crore including the large escape tunnels for ensuring passenger safety during emergencies.[10] The project requires the acquisition of 1,100 ha (11 km2) of land, of which 26% is forest land, at a cost of ₹11,500 crore (~US$8.5 billion). 150 km (93 mi) of approach roads will be constructed.[2]
Sections
In March 2012, Ministry of Railways sent the project to the Planning Commission for appraisal.[11][12] In December 2016, the 498 km (309 mi) the budget of ₹345 crore was approved for carrying out the Final Location Survey (FLS) for Bhanupli–Leh rail,[13] which finally begun in June 2017,[14] and was completed by October 2020.[15] In March 2025, the FSL and subsequent DPR for Bilaspur-Manali-Leh line were complete.[16]
- Section-0: Bhanupli to Barmana (Bilaspur), 63.1 km (39.2 mi) long link begins at the existing Bhanupli station,
- Section-1: Barmana to Mandi
- Section-2: Mandi to Manali
- Section-3: Manali to Upshi
- Section-4: Upshi to Leh
- Section-5: Leh to Sasherthang 13 km (8.1 mi) link, included in the project at the request of the Indian military,[2] and Ministery of Defence had granted final approval in December 2024.[10]
Section-0: Bhanupli to Barmana (Bilaspur), 63.1 km
The construction on this initial section is focused on connecting the existing Bhanupli railway station in the Rupnagar district of Punjab to Barmana in the Bilaspur district of Himachal Pradesh. It has a total track length of 63.1 km (39.2 mi), 20 tunnels totaling 25 km (16 mi), 24 bridges totaling 6 km (3.7 mi), and 2 viaducts totaling 2 km (1.2 mi).[2][8][17]
Section-1: Barmana (Bilaspur) to Mandi
In May 2022, this section commenced with land acquisition between Barmana and Mandi.[18]
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Related connectivity
Originally, a couple of further extensions from Leh also were planned to be constructed at a later time. However, in 2023 these were officially declared to be "shelved due to low traffic projection".[3] They comprised the following.
- 1. Srinagar-Kargil-Leh line, 480 km (300 mi), a Rs 55,896 crore project.[3][19][20] , survey done, DPR on hold as of 2025.
- 2. Pathankot-Leh line, 664 km (413 mi), Rs 70,308 crore project,[3] survey done, DPR being prepared in 2025.
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Status updates
 | This section contains a list of miscellaneous information. (March 2024) |
- 2022 Feb: Section-1 Bilaspur (Barmana) to Mandi section land acquisition begins in Bilaspur district.[18]
- 2022 May: Section-0 Bhanupali to Bilaspur (Barmana) completion date revised to 2025.[8] Seven tunnels of Section-0a (Bhanupli to Dharot) are complete; track-laying work has begun. Funds for Section-0b (Dharot to Bilaspur) were allocated, and construction began.[17]
- 2023 Jul: Bilaspur-Leh line FSL (final location survey) and DPR completed. Other 2 rail routes to Leh, "Leh-Srinagar line" & "Leh-Pathankot line", were surveyed but abandoned due to the low traffic projections and consequent financial non-viability.[3]
- 2024 Dec: Bhanupali to Leh link completion date revised to 2027.[10] Section-0 Bhanupali to Bilaspur (Barmana) section, only 79.57 hectares (63%) out of the total 124.02-hectare was required and construction was underway on the acquired land on which ₹5,205 crore had been spent but the state govt was yet to pay its share of ₹1,351 crore to the railway, thus causing delays due to lack of land acquisition and non-payment of dues.[21]
- 2025 Feb: Cement pillars were being laid on the entire Bilaspur-Leh route to mark the track.[22]
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See also
References
External links
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