Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister of Railways, Information and Broadcasting, Electronics & Information Technology. File
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
The Union Cabinet on Wednesday (March 5, 2025) approved the construction of two ropeways — 12.9 km ropeway from Sonprayag to Kedarnath and 12,4 km ropeway from Govindghat to Hemkund Sahib — in Uttarakhand.
The 12.9 km project connecting Kedarnath to Sonprayag will be developed on Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Transfer (DBFOT) mode at a total capital cost of ₹4,081.28 crore, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said.
Also read: Char Dham Yatra | Yamunotri to get a ropeway
The ropeway is planned to be developed in public-private partnership and will be based on the most advanced Tri-cable Detachable Gondola (3S) technology with a design capacity of 1,800 passengers per hour per direction (PPHPD) carrying 18,000 passengers per day.
The Kedarnath temple, one of the 12 sacred Jyotirlingas, is situated at an elevation of 3,583 m (11968 ft) in Uttarakhand’s Rudraprayag district. The journey to the temple which is opened only for about six months a year, includes a challenging 16-km uphill trek from Gaurikund. Currently pilgrims cover this stretch on foot or by ponies or palanquins. An helicopter service is also available.
The proposed ropeway is planned to provide convenience to pilgrims visiting the temple and ensure all-weather connectivity between Sonprayag and Kedarnath.
The 12.4 km Hemkund Sahib-Govindghat Ropeway will be developed at a total capital cost of ₹2,730.13 crore.
Hemkund Sahib Gurudwara is a highly-revered pilgrimage site situated at an elevation of 15,000 ft in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. The Gurudwara is open for about five months in a year between May and September and is visited by about 1.5 to 2 lakh pilgrims annually. The trek to Hemkund Sahib also serves as the gateway to the famous Valley of Flowers, a national park recognized as the UNESCO World Heritage site, located in the Garhwal Himalayas.
Published – March 05, 2025 03:37 pm IST
