News18 has learned that Amarnath, Kamakhya, Kedarnath and Mahakaleshwar temples are among the 30 projects identified for ropeway connectivity covering a distance of more than 120 km across India.

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Planned under the ‘National Ropeway Development Programme’, one project – between Varanasi Cantt Railway Station and Godaulia Chowk – is currently under implementation. This 3.85 km long ropeway will make the journey easier for those traveling from the railway station to Kashi Vishwanath Temple.

According to the National Highway Logistics Management Limited under the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), bids have been received for two projects – Bijli Mahadev in Kullu in Himachal Pradesh and Dhosi Hill in Mahendragarh in Haryana. Both these projects were awarded awards on Tuesday.

Seven projects totaling 33 km are under bidding. This includes ropeway connectivity to Mahakaleshwar in Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh, Shankaracharya Temple in Srinagar in Kashmir and Sangam in Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh.

Two of the longest projects up for bid are in Uttarakhand – the 12.40 km long ropeway between Govind Ghat and Hemkund Sahib Ji in Chamoli, followed by the 9.70 km long ropeway from Gaurikund to Kedarnath in Rudraprayag.

For at least 15 projects with a collective length of 57 km, a detailed feasibility study is in progress. These include approximately 15 km long ropeway connectivity between Kathgodam in Uttarakhand and Hanuman Temple in Nainital, 1.4 km long ropeway connectivity between Kankchori to Kartik Swamy Temple in Rudraprayag.

Plans have also been made for the second phase of the Varanasi Ropeway in Uttar Pradesh and the Banke Bihari Temple in Vrindavan.

Ropeway connectivity is also being planned to Kamakhya Temple in Assam, Tawang Monastery in Arunachal Pradesh, Sabarmati Riverfront and Statue of Unity in Gujarat, Gwalior Fort in Madhya Pradesh and Marina Beach in Tamil Nadu.

At least five projects with a collective length of 23 km are in the very early stages. These include the ropeway from Baltal to Amarnath Cave in Jammu and Kashmir and the ropeway between Nasri Tunnel and Sanasar in the Union Territory.

Make ropeway economically viable: Gadkari

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday said the biggest priority should be to make ropeways economically viable by reducing the overall project cost and encouraging public-private partnerships to develop ropeway networks in the country.

Addressing the ‘Ropeway: Seminar-cum-Exhibition’ in New Delhi, he said that apart from facilitating tourism in hilly areas, ropeway also offers huge potential in urban public transport.

“Under the National Ropeway Development Programme, ‘Parvatmala Project’, more than 200 projects have been identified at a cost of Rs 1.25 lakh crore in the coming five years,” he said in his address.

The Minister further said that the focus should be on developing indigenous and cost-effective solutions without compromising on security. He said that the ropeway has immense potential to have a positive impact on tourism and employment generation in the country.

To attract more private players for development of ropeways under the Ranges Project, 60% construction assistance is provided under Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM for Ropeways) as compared to 40% support provided under National Highways .