The Union Cabinet has approved two major ropeway projects in Uttarakhand to improve access to the Kedarnath shrine and the Hemkund Sahib gurdwara. The decision comes amid ongoing concerns about the environmental impact of large-scale infrastructure projects in the ecologically fragile state.

A 12.4-km ropeway from Govindghat to Hemkund Sahib will be constructed at a capital cost of Rs 2,730.13 crore under the design, build, finance, operate, and transfer (DBFOT) model. The ropeway will significantly ease the arduous 21-km trek that pilgrims currently undertake on foot, ponies, or palanquins.

Similarly, a 12.9-km ropeway from Sonprayag to Kedarnath has been approved at an estimated cost of Rs 4,081.28 crore. This will cut travel time from the current eight to nine hours to just 36 minutes. Both projects fall under the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways’ Parvatmala scheme, which aims to enhance connectivity in remote regions through ropeway systems.

The approval comes as a Supreme Court-appointed high-powered committee continues to raise concerns over the Char Dham project’s impact on Uttarakhand’s ecology. Environmental experts have warned that increasing tourist inflow through improved connectivity could have disastrous consequences for the region’s fragile ecosystem.

However, Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw defended the decision, stating that detailed technical and geological surveys were conducted before clearance. He also assured that issues related to local mule operators and other affected livelihoods were considered.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had laid the foundation stones for these projects in October 2022, but since then, costs have escalated nearly fivefold. While the ropeways promise improved pilgrimage access, concerns over their long-term environmental impact remain.