Ropeway To Hemkund Sahib: Govt's New Infrastructure Project To Reduce Travel Time Drastically: What We Know

New Delhi: The Centre has approved two new ambitious ropeway projects to major religious and tourist destinations in Uttarakhand. The new high-end infrastructure projects will boost tourism as it will allow tourists and pilgrims to travel to their desired destinations in a more adventurous and exiting ways. The government has approved two ropeway projects — one for Hemkund Sahib and second for Kedarnath Shrine.

What we know about Hemkund Sahib Ropeway Project?

• The ambitious ropeway project will be built under public-private partnerships in a Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Transfer (DBFOT) form.
• The new project for pilgrims convenience will ensure all weather connectivity between Govindghat and Hemkund Sahibji and be built at a total cost of Rs 2730.13 crore.
• The ropeway will be built on Monocable Detachable Gondola (MDG) from Govindghat to Ghangaria covering a distance of 10.55 kms. This will be seamlessly connected to Hemkund Sahib Ji from another 1.85 kms ropeway using the most advanced Tricable Detachable Gondola (3S) technology.
• The capacity of this new ropeway system will be 11,000 passengers per day or 1,100 passengers per hour.
• Not just for pilgrims and devotees, the new ropeway project will boost employment in the region and add to the regions economy.
• At present, reaching the Hemkund Sahib involves a 21-km trek from Govindghat that is covered on foot, ponies or palanquins (a big covered box-like vehicle usually with a seat for one person).

What is Hemkund Sahib?

• Hemkund Sahibji is one of them most sacred pilgrim destinations situated at an elevation of 15,000 feet in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand.
• Hemkund Sahib Gurdwara remains open for only 5 months during the year, between May and September.
• On an average, approximately 1.5 to 2 lakh pilgrims visit Hemkund Sahib annually.
• The region is also popular for a trek to Hemkund Sahib which is a gateway to the valley of flowers.
• The valley of flowers is a national park in the pristine Garhwal Himalayas which is recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Besides this, the Cabinet has also approved Rs 4,081 crore Kedarnath Ropeway Project, reducing travel time from 8-9 hours to just 36 minutes, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw informed. The one at Kedarnath will be a 12.9 km ropeway starting from Sonprayag Kedarnath. It will also be developed using a Design, Build, Finance, Operate, and Transfer (DBFOT) mode.

The announcement of these new ropeway projects has come ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the state on Thursday (today).