Overview

• The Silkyara Tunnel excavation was completed on April 16, 2025, marking a major milestone in the ₹1,384 crore Char Dham road project.
• Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami consecrated the Baba Boukhnag Temple near the tunnel, fulfilling a promise made during the rescue of 41 workers in 2023.
• The tunnel will reduce travel distance between Gangotri and Yamunotri by 26 km, enhancing connectivity and boosting regional trade, tourism, and employment.
• Probes into the 2023 collapse identified inadequate monitoring and weak geological assessments as contributing factors, prompting safety improvements.
• Remaining work, including electrical, mechanical, and road-laying tasks, is expected to be completed within 18 months, according to NHIDCL officials.