Centre approves Rs 6,811 crore ropeway projects for Kedarnath & Hemkund Sahib
Thursday, 06 MARCH 2025 | PNS | DEHRADUN
In a major step towards ropeway connectivity in Uttarakhand, the cabinet committee on economic affairs (CCEA), chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the construction of Sonprayag- Kedarnath and Govindghat- Hemkund Sahib ropeway projects on Wednesday.
Both these ropeway projects will be constructed under design, build, finance, operate and transfer (DBFOT).
The project cost of 12.9 km ropeway between Sonprayag to Kedarnath is Rs 4,081.28 crore while the Govindghat to Hemkund Sahib project will be constructed at a cost of Rs 2,730.13 crore.
The Kedarnath ropeway project 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 ropeway will be a boon to the pilgrims visiting Kedarnath as it would provide an environment-friendly, comfortable and fast connectivity and reduce travel time in one direction from about eight to nine hours to about 36 minutes. At present the journey to the Kedarnath temple is a challenging 16 km uphill trek from Gaurikund and is currently covered on foot or by ponies, palanquins and helicopter. The proposed ropeway will ensure all-weather connectivity between Sonprayag and Kedarnath.
Kedarnath is one of the 12 sacred Jyotirlingas situated at an altitude of 3,583 meters in the Rudraprayag district of the State of Uttarakhand.
The ropeway to Hemkund Sahib will be based on monocable detachable gondola (MDG) from Govindghat to Ghangaria (10.55 km) which will get seamlessly integrated with tricable detachable gondola (3S) technology from Ghangaria to Hemkund Sahib Ji (1.85 km) with a design capacity of 1,100 passengers per hour per direction (PPHPD) carrying 11,000 passengers per day.
Currently, the journey to the Hemkund Sahib is a challenging 21 km uphill trek from Govindghat and is covered on foot or by ponies or palanquins. It is a highly revered pilgrimage site situated at an elevation of 15,000 feet in Chamoli district of the State of Uttarakhand. The trek to Hemkund Sahib also serves as the gateway to the famous valley of flowers located in the pristine Garhwal Himalayas.
