Cabinet Approves ₹4,081 Crore Kedarnath Ropeway Project for Faster Pilgrimage Access

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the construction of the Kedarnath ropeway project, a ₹4,081 crore initiative aimed at enhancing pilgrimage access to the revered Himalayan shrine.

The ropeway, spanning 12.9 kilometers from Sonprayag to Kedarnath, will be developed under the Design, Build, Finance, Operate, and Transfer (DBFOT) model through a public-private partnership. It will utilize state-of-the-art Tri-Cable Detachable Gondola (3S) technology, with a design capacity of 1,800 passengers per hour per direction, accommodating up to 18,000 pilgrims daily.

Once operational, the ropeway will drastically reduce the travel time to Kedarnath from the current 8-9 hours by foot to just 36 minutes. The project is expected to provide an environmentally sustainable and comfortable transportation alternative while generating employment opportunities in construction, operations, and allied tourism sectors such as hospitality, travel, and food & beverage.

Kedarnath, one of the 12 sacred Jyotirlingas, is located at an altitude of 3,583 meters in Uttarakhand’s Rudraprayag district. Currently, the 16-km trek from Gaurikund to the temple is undertaken on foot, ponies, palanquins, or via helicopter services. The proposed ropeway will ensure year-round connectivity, significantly easing the journey for the approximately 20 lakh pilgrims who visit the shrine annually.

The project aligns with the government’s vision of improving last-mile connectivity in hilly regions while fostering economic growth and boosting religious tourism in Uttarakhand.

ET