The Union Cabinet of India, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday approved the Kedarnath Ropeway project, which will significantly reduce travel time for pilgrims visiting one of India’s most prominent religious sites.

The 12.9-km-long Kedarnath Ropeway project is estimated to cost around INR 48.10 billion (NRS 77.3 billion), while the Hemkund Sahib Ropeway project will cost INR 2.73 billion (Rs 4.4 billion), Indian media quoted Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw as saying.

According to media reports, the Kedarnath Ropeway will connect Sonprayag to Kedarnath, cutting down the arduous 16-km trek from Gaurikund—currently taking around nine hours on foot, horseback, or palanquin —to just 36 minutes. The project is expected to improve pilgrimage accessibility and boost the local tourism industry by generating employment opportunities.

The ropeway project, to be developed under a public-private partnership in the 'Design, Build, Finance, Operate, and Transfer (DBFOT)' model, will use the 'Tri-Cable Detachable Gondola' technology.

The system is designed to have a capacity of 1,800 passenger per hour per direction, enabling the transportation of 18,000 pilgrims daily, the Times of India reported.

Beyond easing pilgrimage travel, the project is expected to create a significant number of jobs during both the construction and operational phases, added the Indian media outlet. It is also anticipated to drive the growth of accommodation, transport, catering, and year-round tourism services.

The Kedarnath Ropeway holds particular importance also for Nepal, as a large number of Nepali pilgrims visit Kedarnath every year. Tourism stakeholders believe that the reduced travel time and improved accessibility is expected to make the pilgrimage easier, especially for elderly and physically challenged devotees. -- Agencies