Kedarnath Ropeway Approved: Key Highlights
- Drastic Travel Time Reduction: Kedarnath ropeway to cut travel time from 8-9 hours to just 36 minutes.
- Project Details: 12.9 km long, developed under DBFOT mode at a cost of ₹4,081.28 crore.
- Boost to Religious Tourism: Expected to benefit thousands of pilgrims annually as part of a broader infrastructure push.
The Indian government has approved the long-awaited Kedarnath ropeway project, significantly easing travel for devotees. The arduous trek or mule ride to the sacred shrine will soon be replaced with a swift 36-minute ropeway journey.
“The Kedarnath ropeway project will be developed in a Design, Build, Finance, Operate, and Transfer (DBFOT) mode with a total capital cost of ₹4,081.28 crore,” the government confirmed in a statement.
The 12.9-kilometer-long Kedarnath ropeway is set to be a game-changer for pilgrims, cutting down the trekking travel time to just 36 minutes, significantly reducing the hours-long journey.
Kedarnath Ropeway: A Major Boost to Religious Tourism
The approval of the Kedarnath ropeway is part of a broader initiative to enhance religious tourism infrastructure across India. Similar projects are underway at other Char Dham destinations to make pilgrimages more accessible and convenient.
Key Features of the Ropeway Projects
- Kedarnath Ropeway:
- Length: 12.9 km, connecting Sonprayag to Kedarnath
- Cost: ₹4,081.28 crore
- Altitude: 3,583 meters above sea level, making it one of the world’s longest ropeways
- Travel Time: Reduced from 6-7 hours to just 60 minutes
- Capacity: Expected to handle 3,600 passengers per hour in both directions
- Hemkund Sahib Ropeway:
- Length: 12.4 km, linking Govindghat to Hemkund Sahib
- Cost: ₹2,730.13 crore
- Travel Time: Cut from a 12-hour trek to just 45 minutes
- Additional Benefit: Will also improve access to Ghangaria, the gateway to the Valley of Flowers National Park
Both projects will be developed under the Build, Operate, and Transfer (BOT) model and are aimed at making pilgrimage travel easier, safer, and more accessible, particularly for elderly and physically challenged devotees.
