Dainik Nation News Portal
DAINIK NATION BUREAU/DEHRADUN
Prime Minsiter Narendra Modi led Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved a 12.4 Kilometer rope way for Uttarakhand today. The rope way will be built between Govindghat to Hemkunt Sahib and its cost would be Rs. 2,730.13 crore. It will be constructed under the National Ropeway Development Programme – Parvatmala Project.
Currently, the Hemkunt Sahib Ji journey requires a challenging 21 km trek, which is undertaken on foot, by pony or by palanquin. The new rope-way will offer a much-needed all-weather, last-mile connectivity, significantly easing travel for pilgrims and tourists visiting the Valley of Flowers.
The project will be developed on a Design, Build, Finance, Operate, and Transfer (DBFOT) model on a public-private partnership. The ropeway will incorporate advanced technology, with a Monocable Detachable Gondola (MDG) system covering 10.55 km from Govindghat to Ghangaria and a Tricable Detachable Gondola (3S) system spanning 1.85 km from Ghangaria to Hemkund Sahib Ji. The ropeway will have a capacity of 1,100 passengers per hour per direction (PPHPD), accommodating up to 11,000 passengers daily.
The construction and operation of the ropeway will generate significant employment opportunities, benefiting the hospitality, travel, and food and beverage industries. The project is expected to boost tourism and promote balanced socio-economic growth in the region.
Hemkund Sahib Ji, a revered Sikh pilgrimage site at an altitude of 15,000 feet, attracts approximately 1.5 to 2 lakh pilgrims annually. The ropeway will improve accessibility, benefiting both pilgrims and tourists exploring the UNESCO-listed Valley of Flowers, a prominent natural attraction in the Garhwal Himalayas.
