The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved two ropeway projects worth Rs 6,811 crore in Uttarakhand under National Ropeways Development Programme – Parvatmala Pariyojana.

Ropeway from Govindghat to Hemkund Sahib Ji (12.4 km)

• The Cabinet approved construction of 12.4 km ropeway project from Govindghat to Hemkund Sahib Ji in Uttarakhand. 

• The project will be developed on Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Transfer (DBFOT) mode at a total capital cost of Rs 2,730.13 crore.

• Hemkund Sahib Ji is a highly revered pilgrimage site situated at an elevation of 15,000 ft in Chamoli district in Uttarakhand. 

• The Gurudwara established at the holy site is open for about five 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 recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage site, located in the pristine Garhwal Himalayas.

• Currently, the journey to the Hemkund Sahib Ji is a challenging 21-km uphill trek from Govindghat and is covered on foot or by ponies or palanquins. 

• The proposed ropeway is planned to provide convenience to pilgrims  visiting the Hemkund Sahib Ji and the tourists visiting the Valley of Flowers. It will ensure all-weather last mile connectivity between Govindghat and Hemkund Sahib Ji.

• The ropeway project will also generate substantial employment opportunities during construction and operations as well as in allied tourism industries like hospitality, travel, foods & beverages and tourism throughout the year.

Ropeway from Sonprayag to Kedarnath (12.9 km)

• The Cabinet approved construction of a 12.9 km ropeway project from Sonprayag to Kedarnath in Uttarakhand. 

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

• The journey to the Kedarnath temple is a challenging 16-km uphill trek from Gaurikund and is currently covered on foot or by ponies, palanquins and helicopter. 

• Kedarnath is one of the 12 sacred Jyotirlingas situated at an elevation of 3,583 m in the Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand. 

• The temple is open for pilgrims for about six to seven 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 proposed ropeway is planned to provide convenience to pilgrims visiting the temple and ensure all-weather connectivity between Sonprayag and Kedarnath.

• The 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 eight to nine hours to about 36 minutes.

Parvatmala Pariyojana

• The government announced the National Ropeway Development Programme – Parvatmala Pariyojana in the Union Budget 2022-23.

• Under Parvatmala Pariyojana, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways envisages provision of safe, economical, convenient, efficient, self-sustainable & world-class ropeway infrastructure providing first & last mile connectivity to improve logistics efficiency in India.

• The programme aims to improve connectivity and convenience for commuters in hilly regions and to decongest urban areas where conventional mode of transport is saturated or not feasible. 

• Under this programme, the ministry envisages provision of safe, economical, convenient, efficient, self-sustainable & world-class ropeway infrastructure.

• The ropeway projects are planned as a preferred ecologically sustainable alternative to conventional roads in difficult hilly areas. 

• The aim is to improve connectivity and convenience for commuters, besides promoting tourism. This may also cover congested urban areas, where conventional mass transit system is not feasible.

• For development of ropeway infrastructure in dense forests, in urban areas and in difficult terrains, the ministry is collaborating with various state governments/UT administrations.

• The Centre has identified more than 200 projects at a cost of Rs 1.25 lakh crore under the programme.

(The author is a trainer for Civil Services aspirants.)