The Centre will share the major burden of two ropeway projects proposed for the Kedarnath shrine and Hemkunt Sahib Gurudwar in Uttarakhand, involving ₹6,800 crore. This was revealed through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Uttarakhand government and National Highways Logistics Management Limited (NHLML), a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) owned by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) in Dehradun.
Under the agreement, which was signed in the presence of Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and Union Minister Ajay Tamta on Tuesday, NHLML will hold a 51 percent equity stake, while the state will contribute 49 percent of the project cost. However, once commissioned, the balance of revenue from the two ropeway projects will remain fully dedicated to the interests of Uttarakhand. According to the MoU, almost 90 percent of the revenue generated from these ropeways will be used for tourism, transport, and mobility in the state.
Notably, the two long-discussed, long-standing high-hill ropeway projects in Uttarakhand have finally seen concrete development with the signing of the pact in Dehradun, following several years of talks. The MoU was signed under the Union government’s Parvatmala Scheme, aimed at developing ropeway connectivity across the country.
“The MoU is expected to pave the way for new opportunities in tourism, employment, environmental conservation, and infrastructure while giving a new global identity to the religious and cultural heritage of the state. Approvals for the two long ropeway projects, including the 12.9-kilometre Sonprayag to Kedarnath ropeway costing around ₹4,100 crore and the 12.4-kilometre Govindghat to Hemkund Sahib ropeway worth more than ₹2,700 crore, were granted through the MoUs.”
The Chief Minister said the projects will not only expand the ropeway network in the state but also play a significant role in strengthening the state’s economy. “Rail, road, and ropeway connectivity are rapidly expanding in the state under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Char Dham All-Weather Road, Delhi-Dehradun Elevated Road, Sitarganj to Tanakpur, Paonta Sahib to Dehradun, Banbasa to Kanchanpur, and various other road connectivity projects in border areas have made good progress, while rail connectivity is also being rapidly expanded in the state,” Dhami said.
Union Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways Ajay Tamta said, “The MoU is a significant move for the development of ropeways in the state. Construction of these ropeways will make it much easier for devotees to visit Kedarnath and Hemkunt Sahib.”