Hemkund Sahib, July 12: The long-awaited Hemkund Sahib Ropeway project received global attention after Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke about the infrastructure initiative while addressing members of the Indian diaspora in Auckland, New Zealand. In response, the Sri Hemkunt Sahib Management Trust issued a formal statement thanking the central leadership for keeping the development of the holy site on the national agenda.
The management body used the occasion to call upon both the central and Uttarakhand governments to launch actual physical construction on the 12.4-kilometre ropeway line as quickly as possible. The infrastructure is designed to connect Govindghat directly to Hemkund Sahib Ji, transforming an arduous 10-hour mountain trek into a swift 52-minute aerial ride capable of moving 1,100 passengers per hour in both directions.
At present, the three lakh devotees who make the pilgrimage every year must brave a demanding 19 to 21-kilometre route from Govindghat through Ghangaria to reach the shrine. The completed ropeway will offer a vital alternative for elderly travelers, children, and devotees with physical limitations who currently rely on foot travel, ponies, or palanquins to complete the steep ascent.
The multi-crore transit system has been in development since its foundation stone was officially laid by the Prime Minister on October 21, 2022, during a visit to the frontier village of Mana. The total projected cost for the advanced transit network stands at ₹2,730.13 crore.
“The Prime Minister’s address underscores a significant initiative which will ease the climb for pilgrims and boost tourism in the region,” the Trust’s Chairman, Narendra Jeet Singh Bindra, maintained during a briefing at Govindghat. “This ropeway will provide immense convenience and safety to the Sangat, and we hope all concerned authorities move quickly to bring it to reality.”
The Trust reasserted its dedication to working alongside state and central agencies to ensure the smooth execution of the project without disrupting the spiritual environment of the Himalayan pilgrimage site.
