Uttarakhand

• 06 Mar 2025

Ropeway Projects Approved in Uttarakhand

Why in News? 

On March 5, 2025, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), led by Prime Minister approved two ropeway projects in Uttarakhand. 

 Key Points 

• About the ropeway: 
  • The ropeways will connect Sonprayag to Kedarnath and Govindghat to Hemkund Sahib Gurudwara. 
  • These projects, estimated at Rs 7,000 crore, fall under the National Ropeways Development Programme, Parvatmala Pariyojana. 
  • The ropeways will significantly reduce travel time to pilgrimage sites located over 3,500 metres above sea level. 
• Govindghat to Hemkund Sahib Ropeway: 
  • Length: 12.4 km 
  • Cost: Rs 2,730.13 crore 
  • Development Mode: Design, Build, Finance, Operate, and Transfer (DBFOT) under a public-private partnership (PPP). 
  • Current Trek: Pilgrims currently take a challenging 21-km uphill trek from Govindghat to Hemkund Sahib, traveling on foot, ponies, or palanquins. 
  • Expected Benefits: 
    • The ropeway will ease travel for pilgrims, as the Gurudwara is open only for five months a year (May to September). 
    • 1.5 to 2 lakh pilgrims visit Hemkund Sahib annually. 
    • It will also benefit tourists visiting the Valley of Flowers, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 
• Sonprayag to Kedarnath Ropeway: 
  • Length: 12.9 km 
  • Cost: Rs 4,081.28 crore 
  • Technology: Similar to the Hemkund Sahib ropeway 
  • Time Reduction: 
    • The ropeway will reduce travel time from the current 8-9 hours to just 36 minutes. 
    • Pilgrims currently take helicopters, ponies, or walk a 16-km uphill path from Gaurikund to Kedarnath. 
    • Kedarnath Temple is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas and the most visited temple of the Char Dham Yatra. 
• Economic and Tourism Impact: 
  • The ropeway projects will generate employment during construction and operation. 
  • They will boost allied industries such as hospitality, travel, food & beverages (F&B), and tourism throughout the year. 

 Parvatmala Pariyojana 

• It was announced in the union budget 2022-23 as an Efficient and Safe Alternate Transport Network. 
• The scheme will be taken up on PPP (Public Private Partnership) mode, which will be a preferred ecologically sustainable alternative in place of conventional roads in difficult hilly areas. 
• The idea is to improve connectivity and convenience for commuters, besides promoting tourism. 
  • This may also cover congested urban areas, where conventional mass transit systems are not feasible. 

 Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA)  

• It is chaired by the Prime Minister, and sets priorities for public sector investments.  
• It continuously reviews economic trends to develop an integrated economic policy framework and oversees policies and activities in the economic field, including foreign investment, requiring high-level decisions. 

PM to Offer Prayers at Mukhwa

Why in News? 

The Prime Minister of India is going to visit Uttarakhand and pray at the winter seat of Maa Ganga in Mukhwa. 

 Key Points 

• Events in Harsil: 
  • The Prime Minister will flag off a trek and a bike rally in Harsil. 
  • He will also address a public gathering during a function in the region. 
• Winter Tourism Programme: 
  • The Uttarakhand Government has launched a Winter Tourism Programme in 2025. 
  • The initiative aims to promote religious tourism and boost the local economy. 
  • Thousands of devotees have already visited the winter seats of Gangotri, Yamunotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath. 
  • The programme will support homestays, tourism businesses, and related sectors. 

 Mukhwa  

• It is a small village in the town of Harsil, on the banks of river Bhagirathi, on the way to the pilgrimage of Gangotri.   
• It is situated at an altitude of 2620 meters above the sea level. 

 Ganga River System 

• The headwaters of the Ganga called the ‘Bhagirathi’ are fed by the Gangotri Glacier and joined by the Alaknanda at Devprayag in Uttarakhand. 
• At Haridwar, Ganga emerges from the mountains to the plains. 
• The Ganga is joined by many tributaries from the Himalayas, a few of them being major rivers such as the Yamuna, the Ghaghara, the Gandak, and the Kosi.