The Union Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the construction of ropeways for Kedarnath and Hemkund Sahib. The Kedarnath ropeway, spanning 12.9 kilometers, will be built with an investment of approximately INR 4,081 crore, while the Hemkund Sahib project will cost around INR 2,730 crore. These initiatives aim to enhance accessibility to these important pilgrimage sites.
The Kedarnath ropeway will connect Sonprayag to Kedarnath and will be executed under the Design, Build, Finance, Operate, and Transfer (DBFOT) model. The project will be developed through a public-private partnership and will feature the Tri-cable Detachable Gondola (3S) system. With a capacity of 1,800 passengers per hour per direction, the ropeway can accommodate up to 18,000 pilgrims daily, significantly easing the journey for devotees.
These ropeway projects are expected to reduce travel time and enhance safety for pilgrims visiting the revered shrines. Currently, the trek to Kedarnath takes several hours, but the ropeway will cut the journey to just 30 minutes. Similarly, the Hemkund Sahib ropeway will provide better connectivity for devotees traveling to the sacred Sikh shrine, ensuring a more comfortable pilgrimage experience.
By integrating modern technology and infrastructure, these ropeways will promote religious tourism and economic development in Uttarakhand. The improved accessibility is likely to boost tourism revenue and create employment opportunities, benefiting local communities while preserving the spiritual significance of these sites.