Union Cabinet Approves Ropeway Projects at Kedarnath and Hemkund Sahib, Revamps Livestock Disease Control Scheme

The Union Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved two major ropeway projects at the religiously significant sites of Kedarnath and Hemkund Sahib in Uttarakhand on Wednesday. Additionally, the Cabinet cleared a revised livestock disease control scheme focusing on vaccination and surveillance.

Kedarnath Ropeway: Faster, Eco-Friendly Pilgrimage Access

The 12.9 km Kedarnath ropeway will offer a faster, environmentally friendly, and comfortable travel alternative for pilgrims. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw highlighted that the project will reduce the 16 km travel time from 8–9 hours to just 36 minutes, greatly benefiting elderly and disabled visitors. The route will have three key stops: Sonprayag, Gaurikund, and Kedarnath.

Designed with tri-cable detachable gondola (3S) technology, the ropeway will have a capacity of 1,800 passengers per hour per direction, accommodating 18,000 passengers daily. Developed under a Design, Build, Finance, Operate, and Transfer (DBFOT) model, the project has a total estimated cost of ₹4,081.28 crore and will be executed through a public-private partnership.

Each 36-seater gondola, similar to a minibus, will enhance passenger comfort. The estimated construction period for the project is six years.

Kedarnath’s Religious and Tourism Significance

Situated at an elevation of 3,583 meters (11,968 feet) in Rudraprayag district, Kedarnath is one of the 12 sacred Jyotirlingas. Open to pilgrims for about six to seven months annually, it attracts around two million devotees per season from Akshaya Tritiya (April-May) to Diwali (October-November).

Hemkund Sahib Ropeway: Connecting Sikh Pilgrimage & Valley of Flowers

The second ropeway project, covering 12.4 km at Hemkund Sahib, follows a similar financial structure at an estimated cost of ₹2,730.13 crore. However, it will use a monocable detachable gondola (MDG) system for the 10.55 km Govindghat to Ghangaria stretch, integrating with a tricable detachable gondola (3S) for the 1.85 km Ghangaria to Hemkund Sahib Ji segment. This system will have a design capacity of 1,100 passengers per hour per direction (PPHPD), transporting 11,000 passengers per day.

Hemkund Sahib, a revered Sikh pilgrimage site, also serves as the gateway to the Valley of Flowers, a UNESCO World Heritage national park attracting 150,000–200,000 visitors annually.

Addressing Concerns of Local Transporters

Vaishnaw also noted that the Uttarakhand government has resolved the concerns of pony and palanquin operators, who had earlier protested over potential livelihood losses due to the ropeway projects.

Execution Under Parvatmala Pariyojana

Both projects will be undertaken by National Highways Logistics Management (NHLML), a subsidiary of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), in collaboration with the Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board as part of the Parvatmala Pariyojana.

Livestock Health and Disease Control Programme (LHDCP) Revamp

The Cabinet also approved the Revised Livestock Health and Disease Control Programme (LHDCP), with a primary focus on tackling Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and Brucellosis. A new component, Pashu Aushadhi, has been introduced to improve access to affordable generic veterinary medicines.

The total ₹3,880 crore outlay for 2024-25 and 2025-26 includes ₹75 crore for quality veterinary medicine distribution. One of the key elements of the scheme involves doorstep livestock healthcare delivery via mobile veterinary units, alongside improved availability of medicines through PM-Kisan Samriddhi Kendra and cooperative societies.

Currently, nine states are on the verge of becoming FMD-free, thanks to ongoing vaccination efforts.