Friday, 24 February 2023 | PNS | DEHRADUN
The Tourism department has entered into an agreement for the 3.38 kilometre long Yamunotri ropeway project with SRM Engineering and FIL Industries Private Limited. The memorandum of understanding was signed in the presence of chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and Tourism minister Satpal Maharaj on Thursday.
Dhami said that after completion of this ropeway project, Yamunotri will be connected with the winter abode of goddess Yamuna- Kharsali. This ropeway will also make the pilgrimage to Yamunotri more convenient for the devotees. At present, it takes devotees two to three hours to reach the shrine by taking the bridle path but after completion of the ropeway this journey will take only 15 to 20 minutes. Apart from convenience to the pilgrims, this project will also generate resources for employment at the local level, he said.
Speaking on the occasion, Maharaj said that this ropeway to be built between Kharsali and Yamunotri temple will not only connect the summer and winter abodes of goddess Yamuna but also open a new chapter in religious tourism in Uttarakhand. A target has been set to complete the project within a given time frame, he added.
According to officials, the 3.38 kilometre ropeway will be monocable detachable type. It will be built to European standards on the lines of such projects in France and Switzerland. The capacity of this ropeway will be about 500 persons in one hour with a coach capable of carrying eight persons at a time. This ropeway is proposed to be built by the Tourism department in the public private partnership mode. Along with the ropeway to Yamunotri, construction of accommodation and restaurant is also proposed. The ropeway to be built at a cost of about Rs 166.82 crore will have its lower terminal at Karsali on 1.78 hectare area while the upper terminal will be built on 0.99 hectare area.
