The Indian government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has given the green light for two ropeway projects at the important religious sites of Kedarnath and Hemkund Sahib in Uttarakhand. These new ropeways will make it easier for pilgrims to reach these places, which are visited by millions every year.
The Kedarnath ropeway will stretch 12.9 km and connect different stops, making the journey faster and more comfortable. Instead of taking about 8 to 9 hours to travel around 16 km by foot or pony, it will now take just 36 minutes! This is great news for elderly people and those with disabilities. The ropeway can carry 1,800 passengers every hour, which means it can move 18,000 people in one day. The project will cost ₹4,081.28 crore and will be built as a partnership between the government and private companies.
Kedarnath, located high in the mountains at 3,583 m (11,968 ft), is an important place for Hindu pilgrims. The temple here is open for about six to seven months each year and attracts around two million visitors during that time.
The Hemkund Sahib project is another exciting development. This ropeway will be 12.4 km long and will help visitors reach the holy site for Sikhs and the stunning Valley of Flowers, a UNESCO World Heritage site that attracts between 150,000 to 200,000 visitors each year. The project will cost about ₹2,730.13 crore and will use a different type of gondola system to carry passengers.
Additionally, the government has rolled out a new disease control program for livestock that focuses on important issues like foot and mouth disease and brucellosis. The total budget for this program is ₹3,880 crore over the next two years and will also include initiatives to provide better access to veterinary medicines.
With these projects, the government aims to improve travel to these spiritual sites while also supporting local communities.
Leave a Reply