New ropeways at Kedarnath and Hemkund Sahib will spur economic growth too, says PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today offered prayers at the Kedarnath and Badrinath temples in Uttarakhand and laid the foundation stone for two ropeway projects to be built with an investment of Rs 2,430 crore.

Addressing a large gathering, the Prime Minister said that the ropeways from Gaurikund to Kedarnath and Govindghat to Hemkund Sahib, a Sikh pilgrim site, are not just for providing connectivity but will also give a fillip to economic development in the state.

The launch of the ropeway at Shri Hemkund Sahib will light up celebrations throughout the world,” PM Modi said.

He pointed out that the development initiatives in places of spiritual importance are helping devotees and promoting tourism at these places.

Earlier wearing a white-coloured Himachali attire of the hill people, the Prime Minister performed a “puja” at the Kedarnath temple.

PM Modi laid the foundation stone for road widening projects worth around Rs 1,000 crore at Mana village of Chamoli district.

The two road widening projects – from Mana to Mana Pass (NH07) and from Joshimath to Malari (NH107B) – will be another step towards providing last-mile all-weather road connectivity to our border areas. Apart from boosting connectivity, these projects will also prove beneficial from a strategic point of view as well.

The Prime Minister said, “Mana village is considered as the last village of India. But from now onwards, every village located in the border areas will be considered as the first village of India.” said PM Modi.

PM Modi said that this decade will mark a huge success in the history of New India, adding that “To create the new India of the 21st century we have to follow two pillars: Be proud of our heritage and secondly make every effort for development with the strength of Sabka Prayas.”

“The development of spiritual places will not only provide convenience to all the devotees but also attract the youth of this country. All development initiatives in our country should also focus on inclusivity. A ropeway will allow Divyangs easy access to our places of religious & spiritual importance,” he added.

According to a PMO statement, the ropeway in Kedarnath will be around 9.7 km long and will connect Gaurikund to Kedarnath, reducing the travel time between the two places from 6-7 hours at present to only about 30 minutes.

The Hemkund ropeway will connect Govindghat to Hemkund Sahib. It will be around 12.4 km long and will reduce the travel time from more than a day to only about 45 minutes. This ropeway will also connect Ghangaria, which is the gateway to Valley of Flowers National Park.

The ropeways, which will be developed at a total cost of around Rs 2,430 crore, are an environment friendly mode of transport that will provide a safe, secure and stable mode of transport to pilgrims.