Govt nod to ₹2k cr Kedarnath, Hemkund ropeway projects
The state government has approved two ropeway project worth ₹2,000 crore in Kedarnath and Hemkund Sahib to ease the pilgrim congestion during the Char Dham yatra.
The two projects were approved during a state tourism development board meeting on Monday. The national highway logistics management limited (NHLML), a subsidiary of the national highway authority of India (NHAI), has prepared DPRs for both the ropeways.
Tourism minister Satpal Maharaj said, “Kedarnath ropeway from Sonprayag will be constructed with ₹1,200 crore and from Hemkund Sahib to Govindghat ropeway will be constructed with a cost of ₹850 crore.”
Deepak Khanduri, infrastructure director of tourism department, said, “The ropeway projects at Kedarnath and Hemkund Sahib will be undertaken as per a memorandum of understanding between the central and state governments and two foreign consultants from Switzerland and France will be assisting technically in construction of the projects.”
NS Bindra, vice president of Hemkund Sahib Gurdwara Trust, said: “The ropeway will be constructed from Govind Ghat to Hemkund Sahib will make it pilgrimage easy for the devotees, who at present trek 19 km on foot to reach the shrine.”
A proposal has also been sent to the central wildlife board for its approval, said Bindra.
Maharaj said, “Several other proposals were approved and survey work has been started for the ropeway between Panch Koti to Bauradi, Balati Band to Khaliya Top, Rishikesh to Neelkanth, Auli to Gaursaun and Ranibagh to Hanumangarh Temple.
The ropeway project for Yamunotri shrine has also been put on fast track where a tendering process is also in final stages.” He said under the “Hunar Se Rozgar” scheme, a target has been set to train 200 persons for cooking, service, housekeeping, front offices, etc and it has been decided to impart training for caravan tourism, tea garden tourism, homestay tourism, nature guide.
A proposal for a master plan of ₹1.50 crore for carrying out tourism activities in Auli was also approved along with the doubling of George Everest road in Mussoorie, construction of Satpuli car parking, Kanvashram reconstruction, construction of Kedarnath Dham Passenger Shelter, purchase of an electric vehicle for the department, proposal to organise paragliding, mountain biking, adventure summit were discussed at the meeting.