India is planning a railway station at about 5,256 metres below Ladakh's Tanglang La pass. Built at that height, it would be the highest in the world.
It would sit on the proposed 489 km Bilaspur-Manali-Leh line. The Detailed Project Report puts the cost at Rs 1.31 lakh crore.
The current record belongs to China's Tanggula station on the Qinghai-Tibet Railway, at about 5,068 metres. Tanglang La would be roughly 188 metres higher.
Reports differ on the height. Some earlier accounts put it at 5,359 to 5,360 metres, and the ministry's project details do not state a final figure.
The Railways Ministry said on 13 March 2026 that the survey was complete and the project report ready. The broad-gauge line would run through Manali.
Nearly 270 km of the route would be in tunnels. The Ministry of Defence calls the line strategically important for reaching Ladakh and the border areas.
Ladakh now depends on roads that close in winter. A train would carry passengers and freight all year, and help the forces move supplies faster.
Construction has not been approved yet. Funding is still being discussed with NITI Aayog and the Finance Ministry, and no start or finish date is set.
In October, the Himachal Pradesh High Court quashed a land acquisition notice for a related 63 km stretch, the Bhanupali-Bilaspur-Beri line.
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