Uttarakhand: Kedarnath Ropeway Gets Nod From Wildlife Board, Project To Bring Down Travel Time To 25 Minutes

The construction of a ropeway project connecting Sonprayag and the Kedarnath shrine in the Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand has received approval from the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL).

NBWL is the highest authority in charge of making decisions regarding projects in wildlife reserves and other protected areas.

The Uttarakhand government had declared that construction on the ropeway project will shortly begin.

The project's detailed project report (DPR) has already been prepared.

The ropeway's elevation of 3,500 metre above sea level makes it one of the highest ropeways in the world.

The project aims to bring down travel time to the shrine (which is reached via a trek route) from eight hours currently to 25 minutes, reports Economic Times.

Furthermore, the board approved the construction of a five-kilometre trek from Rambada to Garudchatti near Kedarnath.

About 26.43 hectares of forest land will be given to the state government as part of the project.

The State Wildlife Board had already approved the project before sending it to the NBWL.

Environmentalists have vehemently opposed such a move in the ecologically vulnerable region given the project's nature, which requires that it be carried out in forested areas.

However, the NBWL approved the idea at its 70th standing committee meeting, which was presided over by Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav.