Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit Kedarnath and Badrinath on October 21 to lay the foundation stone of connectivity projects worth over Rs 3,400 crore. The new projects include ropeways connecting Gaurikund to Kedarnath and Govindghat to Hemkund Sahib and all-weather border road widening projects worth around Rs 1,000 crore.
The Gaurikund to Kedarnath Ropeway will be around 9.7 km long and is expected to reduce travel time from six-seven hours to only about 30 minutes.
The Govindghat to Hemkund Sahib ropeway is around 12.4 km long and will reduce 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 cumulative cost of around Rs 2,430 crore, are an environmental friendly mode of transport that will provide safe, secure and stable mode of transport. This major infrastructure development will give a boost to religious tourism, which will give a fillip to the economic development in the region and lead to creation of multiple employment opportunities as well," the PMO said in a release.
The foundation stone of road widening projects worth around Rs 1,000 crore will also be laid during the visit. The road widening projects are - from Mana to Mana Pass (NH07) and from Joshimath to Malari (NH107B). “It shall 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 PMO added.
According to the PMO, on reaching Kedarnath at around 8:30 am, the prime minister will perform darshan and pooja at Shri Kedarnath Temple. At around 9 am, he will lay the foundation stone of the Kedarnath Ropeway Project. He will then visit the Adi Guru Shankaracharya Samadhi Sthal. At around 9:25 am, he will review the progress of development works along Mandakini Asthapath and Saraswati Asthapath.
Thereafter, the prime minister will reach Badrinath where, at around 11:30 am, the prime minister will perform darshan and pooja at Shri Badrinath Temple. At 12 noon, he will review the progress of development work of riverfront, followed by laying the foundation stone of road and ropeway projects at Mana village at 12:30 pm. Thereafter, at around 2 pm, he will review the progress of development work of arrival plaza and lakes.
Kedarnath and Badrinath, one of the most important Hindu shrines, is also known for one of the revered Sikh Pilgrim sites - Hemkund Sahib.
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