As of 4 November 2026, India plans to build a railway station at about 5,256 metres beneath Tanglang La pass on the proposed 489-km broad-gauge Bilaspur-Manali-Leh railway line. The line is intended to connect Bilaspur in Himachal Pradesh with Leh in Ladakh. If built at this elevation, the station would surpass China’s Tanggula railway station, at around 5,068 metres, as the world’s highest.
Project details
The Ministry of Defence has identified the project as strategically important for improving connectivity to Ladakh. Its estimated cost is about Rs 1.31 lakh crore, with nearly 270 km of the route expected to run through tunnels. The railway ministry said the survey was complete and the Detailed Project Report had been prepared. The proposed alignment passes through Sundernagar, Mandi, Manali, Sissu, Darcha, Keylong, Sarchu, Pang, Rumtse, Upshi and Kharu before reaching Leh.
Elevation estimates and land acquisition
Recent reports give 5,256 metres as the proposed station elevation, while some earlier reports, including reports from November 2026 and October 2018, put the line’s highest point or station at about 5,359–5,360 metres. In October 2026, the Himachal Pradesh High Court quashed a preliminary land-acquisition notification for a related 63-km line, citing non-compliance with statutory requirements.
Important Facts for Exams
- Track design: The Bhanupli–Leh corridor is planned as a broad-gauge, electrified, all-weather railway across elevations from 600 to 5,360 metres.
- Military loop lines: Dedicated railway loop lines at route stations are designed to facilitate the movement of military troops and equipment.
- Passenger coaches: Coaches are planned to be heated and pressurised to maintain oxygen levels; the design excludes sleeper-class seats.
