Centre nod to ropeway projects to Kedarnath, Hemkund Sahib

The Union cabinet headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday approved the construction of ropeways at Kedarnath and Hemkund Sahib in Uttarakhand, in a move that is expected to cut travel times to the two popular pilgrimage sites.

- HT Correspondents

NEW DELHI/DEHRADUN:

Both will be complete in four to six years and built at a combined cost of ₹6,811 crore, Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said during a press briefing.

Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said, "On behalf of all the residents of the state, I express my heartfelt gratitude to the respected Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for approving the ropeway projects from Sonprayag to Kedarnath (12.9 km) costing ₹4,081.28 crore and from Govindghat to Hemkund Sahib (12.4 km) costing ₹2,730.13 crore under the Parvatmala Project".

"These projects will ensure better connectivity for pilgrims and tourists, making the journey easy and smooth. This will also reduce the time taken in the journey, which will provide great relief to the pilgrims", he said.

The 12.9km ropeway at Kedarnath will begin at Sonprayag and have a stop at Gaurikund.