Uttarakhand government signs Rs 167 crore MoU for Yamunotri ropeway project

The Uttarakhand tourism department has signed an MoU worth Rs 167 crore with private firms for the Yamunotri ropeway project. The project will connect Yamunotri to Kharsali, reducing travel time for pilgrims and tourists visiting the temple. The ropeway is expected to carry 500 people per hour and will provide an immersive experience of the natural beauty of the state.

The Uttarakhand tourism department, led by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) worth Rs 166.8 crore with two private firms for the Yamunotri ropeway project on Thursday. The project aims to reduce travel time for pilgrims and tourists visiting the Yamunotri temple in Uttarakhand.

The 3.38 km ropeway will be a mono-cable detachable type, capable of carrying 500 people per hour. The lower terminal will be situated on 1.7 hectares of land at Kharsali, and the upper terminal will be located at Yamunotri on 0.9 hectares of land. The ropeway will enable pilgrims to cover the 5 km distance that is presently covered by trekking in just 20 minutes. This ropeway project is considered crucial because pilgrims have lost their lives while trekking on the difficult terrain in the past.

Each coach of the ropeway will be able to carry eight passengers. The Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board is executing the project on a public-private partnership basis. As part of the Yamunotri ropeway project, construction of parking, residential arrangements, and a restaurant has also been proposed.

CM Pushkar Singh Dhami said, “Upon completion of the project, Yamunotri will be directly connected to Kharsali, which is a prominent winter destination. Devotees and tourists will benefit from the ropeway project as they will no longer have to trek for 5.5 km to cover the distance.”

State Tourism Minister Satpal Maharaj added, “Besides the pilgrimage to Yamunotri, the ropeway will open up new possibilities for religious tourism in Uttarakhand. Through this project, tourists will be able to experience the unique natural beauty of the state up close.”