New Milestone Achieved in Tunnel Works for the Indore–Budni Railway Line Project in Madhya Pradesh
New Delhi – Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL), a Navratna CPSU under Ministry of Railways proudly announces the successful achievement of a key milestone in the tunnel construction works of the Indore–Budni New Railway Line Project through Indore, Devas and Sehore districts in Madhya Pradesh .
RVNL through its Project Implementation Unit (PIU) of Bhopal has completed 500 meters of underground excavation in Tunnel-2 (Main Tunnel) and 100 meters in Tunnel-1, marking significant progress in this strategically important rail infrastructure project through challenging terrain. Work across all major components of the project is progressing simultaneously to ensure completion of the project within the stipulated timeline.
The project includes the construction of 2 tunnels namely:
Tunnel-1: of length 1,156 meters (1.156 km) passing through villages Karnawad and Baroli in Tehsil Bagli and Dewas of District Dewas.
And
Tunnel-2: of length 8,640 meters (8.64 km) (longest railway tunnel in Central India) passing through villages – Kamlapur, Thalghewaria, Dostpur and Hathnora of Tehsil- Bagli & Kannod of district Dewas .
And
Construction of 3 viaducts (i.e. elevated track) viz Viaduct 1 – 2340 m long, Viaduct 2 – 7450 m and Viaduct 3 – 800 m long
In addition, one 8640 m (8.64 km) long Escape Tunnel (ET) is also being constructed parallel to the main T-2 tunnel, in compliance with Railway Board guidelines, to ensure passenger safety.
The Indore–Budni New Railway Line Project being executed by RVNL is aimed at providing shorter and more efficient rail connectivity between Indore and Jabalpur by reducing travel distance by approximately 68 km between these two cities. The new line will bypass the highly congested and saturated Bhopal–Itarsi corridor and difficult Budni–Berkheda Ghat section. It will enhance connectivity for several towns and underserved regions across the state contributing to regional economic growth across Madhya Pradesh. It will also alleviate bottlenecks for trains heading toward Mumbai, Delhi, and Southern India
The tunnelling works are being executed using advanced construction techniques such as the New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM), along with modern equipment and stringent safety protocols. Despite complex geological and hydrological conditions, the project team has ensured consistent progress while maintaining high standards of quality and safety.
On this development, CMD, RVNL, Shri Saleem Ahmad, said, “This milestone reflects the dedication, technical expertise, and perseverance of our engineers, geologists, and workforce, who have been working tirelessly under challenging conditions. The progress achieved reinforces our confidence in timely completion of Tunnel-1 and Tunnel-2 and significantly contributes to the overall advancement of the project. Rail Vikas Nigam Limited, along with its executing agencies, remains committed to delivering world-class railway infrastructure while maintaining the highest standards of safety, quality, and environmental sustainability. “
