Will the world’s highest railway station record be taken away from China? India’s big preparation

India is working on a major project to strengthen railway connectivity in the Himalayas. Under this, there is a plan to build a 489 km long railway line from Bilaspur in Himachal Pradesh to Leh in Ladakh. It is proposed to construct a station on this railway line at an altitude of about 5,256 meters (17,244 feet) above sea level. If this happens, it will become the highest railway station in the world. The current record is held by Tanggula Railway Station in China, which is located at an altitude of about 5,068 meters.

According to an estimate, the entire railway project will cost around 1.31 lakh crore rupees. The Ministry of Railways has completed its survey and the DPR has also been prepared. However, the project is yet to receive final approval for construction.

India’s railway station can break China’s record

The most special part of this railway line will be the station to be built under the Tanglang La mountain in Ladakh. Its height will be about 5,256 meters above sea level. Currently the highest railway station in the world is Tanggula station in China. It is located on the Qinghai-Tibet railway line in China and has an elevation of about 5,068 meters.

Thus, India’s proposed station will be about 188 meters higher than China’s current record. However, it will not be easy to build a railway station at such a height. The environment here is very difficult and construction in hilly areas will require special technology and strong infrastructure.

A 270 km long tunnel will be built in the railway line

The total length of the Bilaspur-Manali-Leh railway line will be about 489 kilometers. This railway line will connect many major cities and areas of Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh. The train will reach Leh via Bilaspur, Sundernagar, Mandi, Manali, Sisu, Darcha, Kelong, Sarchu, Pang, Rumtse, Upshi and Kharu. The biggest challenge of this project is to build a railway line through the mountains. About 270 km long tunnel will be built for this. This means that more than half of the railway line will pass through the mountains. Engineers will face many difficulties during construction. These include weak mountain rocks, snowfall, extremely low temperatures, lack of oxygen at high altitudes and difficult geological conditions.

When will the Bilaspur-Manali-Leh railway line be ready?

Despite being such a big project, the scheme is still in its early stages. The Ministry of Railways has completed its survey and a Detailed Project Report (DPR) has been prepared. According to media reports, the project is estimated to cost around Rs 1.31 lakh crore. However, preparation of DPR does not mean that construction has been approved. As of now, there is no final approval for its construction and no fixed deadline for completion has been announced. Financial clearance, technical inspection and necessary government approvals have to be obtained before starting construction.