Tunnels define the rich infrastructure of any country. Not only do tunnels make it extremely convenient to get around places, they also function as a major part of military strategic locations. Tunnels have proven to reduce travel time tenfold, slash down the on-road traffic population and make getting around easy and smooth. Tunnels are a crucial part of depicting the level of development in the country. India is also home to some of the most incredible collections of tunnels, big and small.
India has one of the longest railway tunnels in the world. Set to open for function in 2025, the Patalpani Rail Tunnel is 49 kms long and located in the heart of India, Madhya Pradesh. This rail cum Road Bridge is one of a kind structure allowing both trains as well as cars to seamlessly pass through. The Patalpani Railway Station is one of the local railway stations of Indore city consisting of 2 platforms. Patalpani has been connected to Indore and Khandwa by the system of Metre-Gauge Railway lines. This is also a very convenient way of accessing the famous tourist spot of Patalpani waterfall. Upon completion of this tunnel project, it would connect Indore with Mumbai.
Situated on the Katra-Banihal section the T49 railway tunnel is a breakthrough development among the various tunnels of India. Successfully connecting the regions of sumber and Arpinchala stations, the T49 Tunnel situated 45 kms away from the district headquarters of Ramban in Jammu and Kashmir. Gracing the elevation of 1400 metres above sea level, the tunnel has been created using the international format of two tubes, the main tunnel and an escape tunnel. The escape tunnel feature is now being constructed parallel to the main tunnel and is connected via cross passages in order to facilitate the rescue operations in case of an emergency. Despite facing several challenges, the team of experienced workers have managed to pull off this major work seamlessly.
Situated on an elevation of 1,760 metres above sea level, the Pir Panjal Railway Tunnel or the Qazigund Railway Tunnel goes on for 11.2 kms. This 3rd longest railway tunnel line that is currently occupying space for being the longest railway tunnel in India is spread through the Pir Panjal Mountain Range of the middle Himalayan region in Jammu and Kashmir. It is also a part of the Jammu Baramulla line that has been operational since 2013. The train takes about 10 whole minutes to make its way through the tunnel and reduces travel time 35 kms by road to 17 km from Banihal to Baramulla. The present tunnel allows people to travel from Jammu Tawi or Udhampur to Banihal by road and take the train from Banihal to Srinagar through the railway tunnel.
Also known as Chenani-Nashri Tunnel, this road tunnel is located in Jammu and Kashmir. Located in the lower Himalayas region on NH 44 the tunnel was opened for the use of the general public by 2017. It is famous for being the longest road tunnel in India that goes on for a length of about 9 to 10 kms. It has helped in majorly slashing the travel distance for everyone by 30 kms and the travel time to just 2 hours. This is an all-weather tunnel and passes through places like Patnitop, Kud and Batote that otherwise remains unserviceable during the peak winter or snow season. The tunnel is named after Syama Prasad Mookerjee who had served as a minister for a very long time and had also founded the Bharatiya Jana Sangh.
Named after our honorable former prime minister, late Atal Bihari Vajpayee and located in the stunning hill state of Himachal Pradesh, Atal Tunnel is one of the most iconic engineering marvels in India. Built just under the Rohtang pass and spanning for a length of about 9 kms, the Atal Tunnel is located just on the Leh-Manali highway. Post completion of this all-weather tunnel, the tunnel reduces the overall travel distance from 5 to 6 hours to just 15 minutes. The tunnel connects the two famous hill cities of Manali and opens up at Keylong. It enables the cars and travelers to bypass avalanches, landslides, snowy situations and other such situations. Ever since its opening in 2022, the tunnel has offered a boost to tourism and comes as a blessing to the people on the remote areas around the tunnel.
Also known as Varkala Tunnel or Varkala Canal, the Trivandrum Port Tunnel is situated in the state of Kerala. Not only is this tunnel a historic piece of architecture, the tunnel is also famous for being a marvellously convenient structure. It was constructed by the Travancore kingdom in order to establish a continuous inland waterway across the Thiruvithamkoor as TS canal that was supposed to serve as a trading route. The construction of these 2 long tunnels was started during 1867 with the first one being completed in 1877 and the 2nd one in 1880. The tunnel is 1.06 km long and both the tunnels play a major role in the seamless ferrying of goods and people from Trivandrum to Kollam during the pre-independence era.
This 8.45 km long road tunnel is located in the stunning hill state of Jammu and Kashmir. Placed in the lower Himalayan region and a part of NH 44, the tunnel has been successful in cutting down the travel time between Srinagar and Jammu by 16 kms. The tunnel is made up of 2 parallel tunnels one for each direction to travel through. It was opened for public usage in 2021 and ever since then it has played a pivotal role in improving the traffic conditions and making travels easier for everyone throughout the region. The tunnel has been constructed on a build operate and transfer basis and is completely functional with CCTV cameras, jet fans and proper ventilation throughout.
After being opened for public communication and other related purposes in 2017, the Sangaldan Railway Tunnel is another one of the longest railway tunnels in India. Located in the sections of Katra and Banihal Railway Stations and having links with Jammu and Baramulla, the Sangaldan Railway Tunnel is about 8 kms long and covers places like Lahli, Baramulla, Banihal, Katra and many others. Situated in the middle Himalayan region of the stunning state of Jammu and Kashmir, the railway tunnel has been constructed by the Konkan Railway Corporation. Although the tunnel was faced with many challenges during its construction phases but it was very properly and smartly executed by the workers and engineers.
Situated in the south Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, and panning out for a distance of 6.6 kms, the Rapuru Railway Tunnel is India’s longest electrified rail tunnel in India. The tunnel runs between the stations of Cherlopalli and Rapuru which is a part of the Obulavaripalli – Venkatachalam Railway line. This railway line is newly constructed and seamlessly connects Krishnapatnam port with the hinterland areas for proper freight movement. The entire railway line, including the tunnel connectivity, reduces travel time by 5 hours that used to take 10 hours initially. This is truly an engineering marvel that has been through several construction challenges. This is a horse show-shaped line that was also completed at a record time of just 43 months. The entire tunnel is lit with LED lights at a distance of every 10 metres.
Before the construction of the Pir Panjal Railway Line, the Karbude Tunnel had occupied the place for being the longest rail tunnel in India. This tunnel is 6.5 kms long and is a part of the Konkan Railway route very close to Ratnagiri in Maharashtra. Karbude also occupies the spot for being the Konkan line’s longest tunnel. Considered as an engineering marvel by many, this railway line and tunnel has been functional since 2019 and has served as a boon for the commuters. One can not only be travelling in the erstwhile longest railway tunnels in India, it is also known for being the longest rail tunnel on the Konkan Railway line situated in between Ikshi and Bhoke stations.
The 4.8 kms long Natuwadi Tunnel is located in the state of Maharashtra right next to Kashedi. The Natuwadi Tunnel occupies the place for being the 2nd longest rail tunnel on the Konkal railway line connecting the regions of Karanjadi and Diwan Khavati stations. The entire tunnel spans at a length of about 4.3 kms long and the construction was completed and opened for functioning in 1997. Being a part of one of the most stunning railway lines, Natuwadi Tunnel is a piece of natural beauty in itself. This is one of the most busy routes and junctions that receives a large influx of tourists looking to explore the immaculate beauty of the Western Ghats through a train ride on the Konkan railway line.
The Tike tunnel is a 4 km long tunnel located in the ancient and the oldest natural mountains in the Western Ghats region of the state of Maharashtra. The tunnel functions between the two Marathi towns of Ratnagiri and Nivasar which are collectively known for their rich natural beauty and an immaculate culture. The port town of Ratnagiri is known for its amazing fruits and the iconic Sahyadri Mountains. Completed and opened for functioning to the general public in 1977, the Tike railway tunnel succeeds the Natuwadi Tunnel as a part of the Konkan Railway Line. Known for being one of the most amazing pieces of architectural and engineering marvels in India, the tunnel is surely an achievement for the Indian government.
Situated in the Koraput district of the eastern state of Odisha the Maliguda Tunnel is famous as the 4th biggest broad gauge railway tunnel in India ranking after the Banihal-Qazigund Tunnel. Located 13 kms east of Jeypore and 27 kms from Koraput, this entire tunnel was built by a group of Japanese engineers. The trains travelling on this tunnel railway line makes its way through the various curves and routes while also providing a complete picturesque landscape. The tunnel showcases a depth of about 60 metres complete with sharp curvatures and up to 5 degrees of steep gradients. Along with the Tunnel the entire 430 kms long railway route is replete with scenic vistas, hills, forests and cascading waterfalls. The nearest railway station to explore this tunnel and railway line is 20 kms away in Jeypore junction.
Completed and opened for functioning in 1998, the Berdewadi Tunnel is located in Maharashtra. It runs for a distance of 4 kms and connects the towns of Adavali to Vilavade through its train route. It is also a part of the other group of tunnels that is also another important part of the iconic Konkan Railway train route. It is another part of the other group of tunnels on the Konkan Railway line like the Savarde Tunnel, Barcem Tunnel of Goa and the Karwar Tunnel of Karnataka. Ever since its construction, the tunnel is not only the perfect way of increasing connectivity but it is also the perfect way of checking out the amazing scenic views throughout the train route.
Opened for functioning in the year 1998 and situated in the state of Maharashtra, the Savarde Railway Tunnel is also another major tunnel of the Konkan Railway Station. Situated 1467 kms away from the origin station at Roha with the preceding station being the Kamath Railway Station and the following station being the Aravali Railway Station. The entire railway line is known for displaying its interesting and wonderful Western Ghats on all sides. The entire route consists of 34 stations and the entire Konkan Railway Route remains flocked with a massive influx of tourists all year round.
Barcem is a 3 km long tunnel and a part of the scenic Konkan Railway Station. The functioning of this tunnel started off in 1997 and is one of the primary charms of the railway system of Goa. This tunnel can be seen running between Balli and Canacona enroute on the Konkan Railway Tunnel, and is famous for being the 10th longest tunnel in India and the 3rd longest tunnel in Goa. Also often referred to through its official name of T-73, the Barcem Tunnel is very well made and constantly properly maintained in order to provide with the best and world-class level of railway tunnel service although it has been made during the 70s.
Currently, the construction for the Boarli BG is underway in full swing in the northeast part of India. Situated in Assam, after its construction, this will be the longest railway tunnel in northeast India entirely. The tunnel is located very close to the new Haflong and measures 3.2 kms in length throughout. It is successful in connecting the New Haflong Railway Station with Jatinga Lumpur Railway Station. It is also one of the most important tunnels in the 210 kms broad gauge track. Due to the challenging hilly terrain of the North East, the tunnel construction had to go through a number of geological issues and other related natural soil conditions.
Opened for operation in 1998 and located in Karnataka, the Karwar Tunnel completes the function of both road and Railway Tunnel. The Karwar Railway Station is one of the main railway stations in the Uttarakannada region of the south Indian state of Karnataka. Serving the city of Karwar the Karwar railway line is connected by the Konkan railway that further connects major as well as minor cities in India like Delhi, Mumbai, Bhopal, and Jaipur, etc. the Karwar railway line is just 60 kms away from Madgaon in Goa and has played a pivotal role in connecting the two cities easily. This railway tunnel is a great way of getting around while also exploring the beautiful scenery and ecology that this region of India has to offer.
The Honnavar Tunnel is a 1.3 km long straight-lined railway tunnel that is also a part of the immaculate Konkan railway line. The Honnavar Railway Station precedes the Kumta Railway Station and the succeeding station on the line is the Manki Railway Station. The tunnel is blessed on both sides with lush greenery and has helped in making travelling from place to place available for everyone. The Honnavar City in itself is an untouched natural paradise that has served as a coastal town for years on end. It is also just about over 500 kms away from its station of origin.
Q. Which Is The Shortest Tunnel In India?
Ans. Bhanwar Tonk Tunnel is the shortest tunnel in India and is located in Chhattisgarh.
Q. Which Is The Highest Altitude Tunnel In The World?
Ans. The Atal Tunnel which is 9 km long is the highest-altitude tunnel in the world.
Q. Which Is Asia’s Largest Tunnel?
Ans. Zojila Tunnel is Asia’s longest road tunnel.
Q. Which Is Asia’s Oldest Tunnel?
Ans. The Parsik Tunnel in Maharashtra is the oldest tunnel in Asia.
Q. Which Is The Longest Road In India?
Ans. NH 44 is the longest road in India.
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