Transnational India-Nepal-Bhutan Upper Himalaya Railway

The total expected length of this route is more than . It would become the highest railway track in the world, connecting upper reaches of the Himalayas from its far West corner to its far east corner, covering India (J&K, Himachal Pradesh and Uttrakhand), Nepal, Sikkim (India), Bhutan and back to India (Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Manipur).
History
China is already building rail link to Pakistan and Mayanmar and is proposing to build rail links to Nepal as a result India is also building rail links to Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Mayanmar (Burma).
The proposed India-Nepal-Bhutan Upper Himalaya Railway will provide good connectivity to the SARRC nations (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation).
Route
The Transnational India-Nepal-Bhutan Upper Himalaya Railway is a proposed high-elevation all-weather Indian broad-gauge railway track that is planned to connect
* Leh in Jammu and KashmirIndia,
* Manali in Himachal Pradesh in India,
* Moorang and Sangla in Himachal Pradesh in India,
* Joshimath, Chamoli, Munsyari and Dharchula in Uttrakhand in India,
* Chandika, Khalanga, Bhalchaur, Adhikarichaur, Baglung Bazar, Lekhnath, Kangel,Dharchula, Jumla, Pokhara, Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Kangel in Nepal,
* Mangan and Gangtok in Sikkim India,
* Haa Indian Army Base, Thimpu, Trongsa, Jakar and Trashi Yangtse in Bhutan,
* Tawang, Kurung Kumey, Yingkiong, Anini, Hawai, Khonsa and Changlang in Arunachal Pradesh in India,
* Tuensang in Nagaland in India,
* Ukhrul, Pallel and Chakpikarong in Manipur in India.
Strategic importance
Once this railway line is completed, all of the upper Himalayan corridor of India, Nepal and Bhutan will be connected. Currently, India has very poor connectivity and underutilized trans-border trade with ASEAN and SAARC countries. It will provide several benefits
* Negate Chinese influence in business
* Maintain India's influence over Nepal and Bhutan
* Personnel and equipment will be transported more easily to strategic military and air force base.
* Increase business between India, Bhutan, China, Myanmar and Bangladesh
* Open up far flung hard to reach interiors for the economic development
* Harness the hugely untapped massive tourism potential worth several billion $$
* Faster travel time
* Increased access to amenities to the people in remote areas e.g. health, education, jobs, etc
* Eco friendly, any damage to environment will be far less than the current damage caused by long winding and inefficient, time and fuel consuming routes
Challenge
After Konkan Railway and Kashmir Railway, Bilaspur-Mandi-Leh railway line will be the most challenging railway project in Indian Railways due to high mountains, a large number of tunnels and high bridges and severe cold weather. However, it is uncertain when the construction would start, if at all.

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