World's Highest Railway Station to be Built in Ladakh, Construction at an Altitude of 17,582 Feet in Tangla

According to a report by Amar Ujala, work is progressing rapidly on the ambitious project to bring railways to the rugged and mountainous region of Ladakh. If everything goes as planned and the Detailed Project Report (DPR) of the project receives final approval, India will set a new world record by constructing the world's highest railway station. This railway station is planned to be built at an altitude of 17,582 feet above sea level in Tangla, Ladakh.

Following the implementation of this project, it will break the record of the Tanggula railway station located at an altitude of 16,627 feet on the Qinghai-Tibet railway line situated on the border of China's Tibet Autonomous Region and Qinghai province. The proposed station in Tangla will be at an altitude of approximately 291 meters higher than China's Tanggula station, giving it a distinct identity on the global stage. According to sources associated with the project, the survey for this has been completed and the DPR has also been prepared. Currently, only formal approval is awaited to begin the construction work. For this, the process of consultation and obtaining necessary approvals with concerned organizations, including NITI Aayog and the Ministry of Finance, remains pending.

Rs 1.31 lakh crore is the estimated cost of this entire railway project. This 489-kilometer-long railway line will pass through extremely rugged mountainous areas of the Himalayas. The main objective of this project is not only to connect Ladakh to the country's railway network, but also to make the movement of military equipment and essential commodities to this strategically important border area smoother and stronger. The Ministry of Defence has marked this project as a strategically important scheme.

This project's engineering capability will be astounding. Out of the total 489 kilometers of track, approximately 270 kilometers of the portion will pass through tunnels, which means that more than half of the railway route will be built by piercing mountains. The construction of 62 tunnels and 116 bridges is proposed in the entire project. This railway line will start from Bilaspur in Himachal Pradesh and reach Tangla in Leh via Sundernagar, Mandi, Manali, Kelong, Sarchu, and Upshi. There is also a plan to build India's first underground railway station at Kelong on this route. Work is underway on the Bhanupali-Bilaspur rail section in the first phase of the project, which is expected to be completed by 2027, although the timeline for the entire Bilaspur-Manali-Leh corridor has not been decided yet.

The construction of this railway line will bring several benefits to Ladakh. Even during heavy snowfall and adverse weather in winters, the railway connectivity remaining operational will keep the supply of food grains, fuel, and other essential commodities regular, which will help control the prices of goods at the local level. Additionally, this project will give a major boost to tourism and economic activities in the surrounding areas including Lahaul-Spiti in Himachal Pradesh, Zanskar, and Leh. Increased convenience in the transport and tourism sectors will also create new employment opportunities at the local level.

The China-Tibet railway line is an important railway project built by China that connects Tibet with other parts of China. This railway line is known for its high mountain routes and magnificent engineering marvels. For years, the Tanggula station located on this line held the title of the world's highest railway station, which is now being challenged by this new project of India.