The arduous pilgrimage to Kedarnath Dham is set to become significantly easier and safer with the construction of a 12.9 km ropeway connecting Sonprayag to Kedarnath. This ₹4,081 crore project, undertaken by the Adani Group, aims to slash travel time from the current 8-9 hour trek to a mere 36 minutes.
Project Details and Benefits
The Kedarnath ropeway is being developed under the National Ropeways Development Programme – Parvatmala Pariyojana, on a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. The project is executed by Adani Enterprises Ltd (AEL)'s Roads, Metro, Rail, and Water division. The ropeway will employ a state-of-the-art Tri-cable Detachable Gondola (3S) technology, capable of transporting 1,800 passengers per hour per direction (PPHPD), potentially serving 18,000 pilgrims daily. Each gondola will have the capacity to accommodate 36 passengers.
Gautam Adani, Chairman of the Adani Group, has called the project "a bridge between devotion and modern infrastructure," emphasizing the importance of blending faith with development. He also expressed pride in contributing to a project that will make the pilgrimage simpler and safer for devotees.
Expected Impact
- Reduced Travel Time: The most significant advantage of the ropeway is the drastic reduction in travel time, from a strenuous 8-9 hour trek to just 36 minutes.
- Increased Accessibility: The ropeway will make the Kedarnath pilgrimage accessible to the elderly, those with health issues, and differently-abled individuals who find the current trek challenging.
- Boost to Tourism and Economy: By improving connectivity, the project is expected to boost tourism in the region, generating employment in construction, operations, and related hospitality sectors.
- Environmental Benefits: The ropeway is expected to reduce reliance on carbon-intensive alternatives like helicopters and animal transport, contributing to the preservation of the Himalayan ecosystem.
Project Timeline
Construction of the Kedarnath ropeway is expected to take six years, after which AEL will operate it for 29 years. Adani Enterprises will share 42% of its revenue with the National Highways Logistics Management Ltd (NHLML). The government is expected to benefit from this revenue sharing without having to make any upfront capital expenditure.
Potential Challenges
While the Kedarnath ropeway project promises numerous benefits, it also faces potential challenges:
- Environmental Impact: Concerns exist regarding the impact of construction on the fragile Himalayan ecosystem, including deforestation and destabilization of landslide-prone areas.
- Job Displacement: Local mule operators, porters, and small vendors along the traditional trekking route may face job losses due to reduced foot traffic.
- Increased Human Load: The increased accessibility could lead to a surge in pilgrims, potentially straining resources and increasing waste management challenges at Kedarnath.
Other Developments
In addition to the Kedarnath ropeway, the government has also approved a 12.4 km ropeway project from Govindghat to Hemkund Sahib, another significant pilgrimage site in Uttarakhand. This project, estimated to cost ₹2,730.13 crore, aims to reduce the travel time to Hemkund Sahib from 12 hours to just 45 minutes. Both ropeway projects are part of a larger effort to improve infrastructure and boost religious tourism in Uttarakhand.
