Good News! Sonprayag To Kedarnath in Just 36 Minutes, Details Inside

New Delhi: Good news for pilgrims! The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given a nod to new 12.9-km Kedarnath ropeway project on Wednesday, it's set to reduce travel time to just 36 minutes, promises a smoother, faster journey from Sonprayag to Kedarnath. With an investment of Rs 4,081 crore, this will make visiting the holy shrine more accessible and convenient for all.

The ropeway project will be developed on Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Transfer (DBFOT) mode at a total capital cost of Rs 4,081.28 crore.

Faster Journey for Pilgrims

Currently, pilgrims going to Kedarnath undertake a challenging 16-km  trek from Gaurikund, which takes 8-9 hours on foot or through other services like helicopter, horses. The ropeway project will reduce the travel time to just 36 minutes.

It is planned to be developed in public-private partnership and 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 daily.

Boon For Locals and Tourists

The Kedarnath ropeway project will be a game-changer for pilgrims, offering eco-friendly, comfortable, and fast connectivity, reducing travel time from 8-9 hours to just 36 minutes.

The project is believed to 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.

Also Read: Sikkim Govt Plans Ropeway System in Gangtok to Boost Tourism

The proposed ropeway is planned to provide convenience to pilgrims visiting the temple and ensure all-weather connectivity between Sonprayag and Kedarnath.

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.

(with ANI inputs)