TheBhanupli–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) long1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) widebroad-gauge all-weatherelectrified railway track connecting Bhanupli inPunjab,[5] toLeh inLadakh.[2][6][7] Passing throughseismic zone IV and V at an elevation of 600 m (2,000 ft) to 5,360 m (17,590 ft) abovesea level, this geostrategically important track will reduce travel time fromNew Delhi to Leh to 10 hours,[3][4] which takes 25–40 hours by road.
After theJammu–Baramulla line, the Bhanupli–Leh line will be the most challenging railway project inIndian 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 atSissu,Karu, Debring, Leh, and Sesharthang.[2]
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 ₹99,000crore (~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 track 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]
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]
In March 2012,Ministry of Railways sent the project to thePlanning 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-5: Leh to Sasherthang 13 km (8.1 mi) link, included in the project at the request of theIndian military,[2] and Ministry 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 theRupnagar district ofPunjab to Barmana in theBilaspur district ofHimachal 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]
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.
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]
