For Prelims: World's Highest Railway Station, Project, Total Length, Highest Station, Tunnels, Current World's Highest Station
For Mains: Strategic railway connectivity, Himalayan infrastructure, border area development, defence logistics
Source:
Hindustan
5 facts for one-day exams
SSC, railway, police and teaching exams ask direct questions like these.
- India will build the world's highest railway station at Tengla, Ladakh.
- The station will be at 5,359 m above sea level.
- The Bilaspur-Manali-Leh railway line is 489 km long.
- 62 tunnels will cover 55% of the route (270 km).
- The current world's highest station is Tanggula in China at 5,171 m.
Why in the news?
India is building the 489 km Bilaspur-Manali-Leh railway line, which will include the world's highest railway station at Tengla, Ladakh, at 5,359 metres above sea level.
Summary
- The world's highest railway station will be built at Tengla, Ladakh, at 5,359 m above sea level.
- 55% of the route (about 270 km) will pass through 62 tunnels to navigate the rugged terrain.
Highlights
World's Highest Railway Station
India will build a railway station at Tengla, Ladakh, at 5,359 m, surpassing China's Tanggula station by 188 m.
Massive Tunnel Network
55% of the 489 km route (270 km) will be through 62 tunnels to cross the rugged Himalayan terrain.
World's highest railway stations
| Station | Country | Height (m) |
|---|---|---|
| Tengla (planned) | India | 5,359 |
| Tanggula (current) | China | 5,171 |
Background GK
Textbook concepts you need to understand this news
- World's Highest Railway Station
- The railway station located at the highest altitude above sea level. Currently it is Tanggula station (5,171 m) on the Qinghai-Tibet Railway in China. India's Tengla station will surpass it.
Facts to remember
Tap a card to see the answer. Try to recall it first.
How exams will ask this
Don't make this mistake!
Examiners may swap the height of Tengla with another altitude (e.g., 5,171 m is the current Tanggula station, not Tengla). They may also confuse the project with the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) or the Delhi-Amritsar-Katra line.
Write these in mains answers
- Strategic railway connectivity, Himalayan infrastructure, border area development, defence logistics
Stuck? Get it in one tap
India is building a 489 km railway line from Bilaspur (Himachal) to Leh (Ladakh) via Manali. On this line, a station at Tengla will be the world's highest at 5,359 m above sea level, 188 m higher than China's Tanggula station. Most of the route will be through tunnels to handle the mountains.
- India will build the world's highest railway station at Tengla, Ladakh.
- The station will be at 5,359 m above sea level.
- The Bilaspur-Manali-Leh railway line is 489 km long.
- 62 tunnels will cover 55% of the route (270 km).
- The current world's highest station is Tanggula in China at 5,171 m.
- Geography: Transport and infrastructure in the Himalayas
- Polity: Border area development and strategic infrastructure
Related concepts: World's Highest Railway Station
Practice questions
Pick an answer, then read the explanation.
- Q1Easy
Which ministry is responsible for the construction of the Bilaspur-Manali-Leh railway line?
Explanation: The Ministry of Railways under the Government of India is the nodal ministry for all railway projects, including the Bilaspur-Manali-Leh line. The Ministry of Defence handles border roads, the Ministry of Road Transport handles highways, and the Ministry of Home Affairs handles internal security, not railway construction.
- Q2Hard
Consider the following statements regarding the Bilaspur-Manali-Leh railway line:
- 1.The line will be 489 km long and will include the world's highest railway station at Tengla.
- 2.55% of the route will pass through 62 tunnels.
- 3.The current world's highest railway station is in China at 5,359 m.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation: Statement 1 is correct: the line is 489 km and Tengla will be the world's highest station. Statement 2 is correct: 55% of the route (270 km) will be through 62 tunnels. Statement 3 is incorrect: the current world's highest station is Tanggula in China at 5,171 m, not 5,359 m (5,359 m is the height of the planned Tengla station). Hence option C is correct.
- Q3Medium
What is the height of the planned world's highest railway station at Tengla on the Bilaspur-Manali-Leh line?
Explanation: The Tengla station in Ladakh will be built at 5,359 m above sea level. 5,171 m is the height of the current world's highest station, Tanggula in China.
Frequently asked questions
1. Where will the world's highest railway station be built in India?
It will be built at Tengla in Ladakh at 5,359 m above sea level on the Bilaspur-Manali-Leh railway line.
2. How long is the Bilaspur-Manali-Leh railway line?
The line is 489 km long, with 55% of it (270 km) passing through 62 tunnels.
3. Which is the current world's highest railway station?
The current world's highest railway station is Tanggula station in China at 5,171 m on the Qinghai-Tibet railway.
All sources
- Original9 November 2026 · Read story
