 and other from Sonprayag to Kedarnath.){kind=link}
Cabinet approves the development of two ropeway projects from Govindghat to Hemkund Sahib Ji (12.4 km) and other from Sonprayag to Kedarnath (12.9 km), both in Uttarakhand, at total cost of INR 6811.41 crore, under the National Ropeways Development Program – Parvatmala Pariyojana.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved the construction of these ropeway projects. The first one will be developed on a Design, Build, Finance, Operate, and Transfer (DBFOT) mode at a total capital cost of Rs. 2,730.13 crore, and the second one at a cost of Rs. 4,081.28 crore.
Currently, the journey to the Hemkund Sahib Ji is a challenging 21-km uphill trek from Govindghat, and the journey to the Kedarnath temple is a challenging 16-km uphill trek from Gaurikund. The treks are currently covered on foot or by ponies, palanquins, and even helicopters. These proposed ropeways are planned to provide convenience to pilgrims, visitors, and tourists visiting the Valley of Flowers and ensure them all-weather connectivity.
Kedarnath is one of the 12 sacred Jyotirlingas, situated at an elevation of 3,583 m (11968 ft) in the Rudraprayag district of the State of Uttarakhand. The temple is open for pilgrims for about 6 to 7 months in a year from Akshaya Tritiya (April- May) to Diwali (October- November) and is visited by about 20 lakh pilgrims annually during the season.
The Kedarnath Ji ropeway project 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 8 to 9 hours to about 36 minutes. It will have a design capacity of 1,800 passengers per hour per direction (PPHPD) carrying 18,000 passengers per day.
The Hemkund sahib Ji ropeway is planned to be developed in public-private partnership and will be based on Monocable Detachable Gondola (MDG) from Govindghat to Ghangaria (10.55 km), seamlessly integrated with the most advanced 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.
The projects will generate employment opportunitiesÂ
These ropeway projects will also generate substantial employment opportunities during construction and operations as well as in allied tourism industries like hospitality, travel, foods & beverages (F&B) and tourism throughout the year.
The development of ropeway projects is a significant step towards fostering balanced socio-economic development, enhancing last mile connectivity for pilgrims and fostering rapid economic growth of the region.
Hemkund Sahib Ji is a highly revered pilgrimage site situated at an elevation of 15,000 ft in Chamoli district of the State of Uttarakhand. The Gurudwara established at the holy site is open for about 5 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 Ji also serves as the gateway to the famous Valley of Flowers, a national park recognized as the UNESCO World Heritage site, located in the pristine Garhwal Himalayas.
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