Two tunnels of Rishikesh Karnaprayag Railway project and Sikyara Tunnel inaugurated jointly by Uttarakhand chief minister Dhami, Rly minister Ashnavi Vaishnav and Ajay Tamta
SUNIL NEGI
The Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami had an extremely hectic schedule today when he inaugurated two important projects alongwith the union Railway minister Ashwani Vaishnav and union state minister Highways and Transport Ajay Tamta in Garhwal Uttarakhand at two different locations.
While the union Railway minister Ashwani Vaishnav and Pushkar Singh Dhami inaugurated the two railway tunnels T- 8 and T-8 M after their successful completion under the ongoing work on Rishikesh Karnaprayag Railway line project on the other hand the union state minister Ajay Tamta and Uttarakhand CM Dhami jointly inaugurated the completion of the protracted construction work of Silkyara tunnel costing Rs. 1384 crores.
There were hundreds of people present on the ocassion of the inaugural ceremony addressed by the chief minister Dhami and union minister of state for highways Ajay Tamta.
The chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that the Silkyara tunnel is not just a construction project but a strong foundation for the future of Uttarakhand. This 4.50 km long tunnel, built at a cost of Rs 1384 crores is extremely important from the point of view of Chardham Yatra and is also the longest tunnel by road in the state. Its completion will not only facilitate pilgrims, but will also give a new boost to business, tourism and local employment opportunities in the region said the CM while addressing the local populace present on this ocassion.
He accorded hearty congratulations and best wishes to all the engineers, technical experts and workers associated with this challenging project, whose tireless hard work, dedication and skill made the breakthrough possible saying further that the Silkyara tunnel rescue operation was successful with the blessings of Baba Baukhnag ji.
I am extremely happy that today the consecration of Baba Baukhnag ji’s temple has also been done said CM Dhami.
He also extended a hearty welcome and felicitation to the Union Railway Minister Shri@AshwiniVaishnaw
on his arrival in Uttarakhand on the occasion of breakthrough programme of tunnel number T-8 and T-8M under Rishikesh – Karnprayag rail project in district Pauri Garhwal and inaugurated the two tunnels after their succesful completion.
The union minister of state for Highways and Transport Ajay Tamta said that today, the same India, with the strength of its determination and new technical capabilities, has accomplished the task of penetrating this tunnel.
On this auspicious occasion, Hon’ble Chief Minister did Pran Pratishtha of the newly built temple of Baba Bauknag ji near the tunnel.
Baba’s blessings ensured that this pious work was successfully completed saying further that under the leadership of the honourable and successful Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji, the infrastructure in the mountainous regions of the country is rapidly developing. In that context, this tunnel will not only show a new path to Uttarakhand, but will also make the Chardham Yatra easy and safe asserted Ajay Tamta.
It may be recalled that the Silkyara tunnel was very much in the news in the month of November in the year 2023 when 41 working staff including several labourers wre trapped inside the tunnel for several days due to a portion of it coming down and blocking it with huge boulders.
The collapse was attributed to a conviction of geological factors like massive seeping, weak rocks and undetectable internal leakages etc. a foreign expert was called to clear the blockages by using Hi tech machines imported from abroad. The matter was extremely in the news for several days with top engineers, technocrats, seismologists and experts being summoned including several central ministers stay put there for several days in the instruction of the prime minister Narendra Modi.
