Dehradun, August 30: Ashoka Buildcon has received a ₹602.16 crore Letter of Acceptance (LOA) from Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) for electro-mechanical (E&M) works in four tunnels of the Rishikesh-Karnaprayag New Broad Gauge Rail Line Project in Uttarakhand.
The LOA, dated August 28, 2026, covers Package-3 under Package E-4 and includes the supply, erection, testing and commissioning of E&M systems for Tunnels T-13, T-14, T-15 and T-16, according to Ashoka Buildcon’s regulatory filing.
The scope includes 33/11 kV and 11/0.433 kV GIS substations, HT and LT cables, diesel generator sets, lighting, UPS systems, ventilation, firefighting systems and associated works. The contract has an execution period of 30 months from the date of commencement.
Ashoka Buildcon is also required to submit a ₹25.51 crore performance bank guarantee, while the contract carries a two-year defect liability period, according to the filing.
The contract follows further progress on the 125-km Rishikesh-Karnaprayag rail project. In June, overall progress stood at 74%, with tunnel excavation at around 96%. The latest update puts overall progress at 78%, while around 97% of tunnel excavation has been completed, according to RVNL Chairman and Managing Director Saleem Ahmad. The completion target remains December 2029.
The project mainly involves tunnel construction, with 16 main-line tunnels spanning about 104 km and 12 escape tunnels covering around 98 km. The new Ashoka Buildcon package covers E&M systems for four of these tunnels rather than tunnel excavation.
The E&M works cover power supply and distribution, backup generation, lighting, ventilation and firefighting systems across the four tunnels, according to the contract filing.
The Rishikesh-Karnaprayag line is being developed to improve rail connectivity to the Garhwal Himalayas, including access to pilgrimage and tourism destinations, while also strengthening connectivity in strategically important areas of Uttarakhand.
RVNL CMD Saleem Ahmad said the project remains targeted for completion by December 2029 and is expected to improve access to the Himalayan region, support the Char Dham pilgrimage corridor, strengthen border connectivity, boost tourism and local economies, and reduce travel time in the region.
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