Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw informed the Rajya Sabha on 25 July, 2025 that the survey for a new 81-km railway line from Saharanpur to Dehradun via Shakumbhari Devi has been sanctioned. However, he clarified that no timeline has been fixed yet for its completion.

In his written reply, the Minister stated that survey work is currently underway to prepare a detailed project report (DPR) for the project. He emphasised that railway infrastructure projects are selected based on various factors such as remunerative potential, traffic projections, last-mile connectivity, filling missing links, alternate routes, augmentation of congested lines, and socio-economic benefits. 

The proposed line is now in the consultation phase, with input being sought from stakeholders, including state governments. The project also requires approvals from NITI Aayog and the Ministry of Finance before any construction can begin. These considerations are weighed against the financial availability, existing project liabilities, and competing infrastructure demands.

The new line, which aims to improve regional connectivity in Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh, is expected to benefit religious tourism and bolster the transport network once executed. Final execution will depend on approvals and funding alignment.