Chenab–Beas River-Link Project Approved in Himachal Pradesh

The Central government of India approved the Chenab–Beas Link Tunnel project in May 2026 as one of the major river-linking infrastructure projects connected with the Chenab river. The project is planned in Himachal Pradesh and has an estimated cost of ₹2,352 crore.

Chenab–Beas Link Tunnel

The project includes an 8.7-kilometre tunnel for diverting surplus water from the Chenab basin into the Beas river system. The diversion is linked to the Indus river system, which includes the Chenab, Jhelum, Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej rivers.

Project Components and Location

Phase 1 of the project includes a proposed 19-metre-high barrage on the Chandra river near Koksar village in the Lahaul valley of Himachal Pradesh. The Chandra river is a tributary in the upper Chenab basin in the western Himalayas.

Implementing Agency and Hydropower Linkage

The National Hydroelectric Power Corporation, or NHPC, will handle the project. The project is expected to facilitate nearly 4,000 MW of additional hydropower generation in Himachal Pradesh.

Indus Waters Treaty Context

India placed the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan in abeyance in April 2025. The treaty, signed in 1960, governs the sharing of waters of the Indus river system between India and Pakistan.

Important Facts for Exams

• The Chenab river is one of the western rivers of the Indus river system under the Indus Waters Treaty.
• The Beas river is a tributary of the Sutlej river and flows through Himachal Pradesh and Punjab.
• NHPC is a central public sector enterprise engaged in hydropower development in India.
• River-linking projects in India are associated with inter-basin water transfer and irrigation planning.

Project Status

The project was at the drawing-board stage in May 2026 and had no officially verified completion date. The available verified facts did not confirm July 2029 as the completion target.