NEW DELHI: To improve connectivity to Kedarnath, reduce travel time by road and increase safety of pilgrims, the government has focused on constructing a 7 km tunnel connecting Chaumasi in Kalimath valley near Guptkashi to Sonprayag, the starting point of the ropeway project that will take pilgrims to the shrine.The double tube tunnel will not only be an alternative, but also serve as an escape route in emergencies and in bad weather. The government will also conduct a feasibility study for a walkway and a pedestrian tunnel from the Chaumasi side to ensure better connectivity to the Kedarnath shrine.Currently, all vehicles going to Sonprayag and Gauri Kund take NH-107. As per the plan, the existing single-lane road in Kalimath Valley under the Uttarakhand government will be expanded to two lanes to accommodate increased traffic once the tunnel becomes operational.
Traffic to Sonprayag, P 10
TOI has learned that the road transport department had a detailed discussion with the Uttarakhand government last week on the proposal. It noted the increased number of pilgrims and tourists in Kedarnath, which stood at 17.7 lakh last year and is expected to rise to 25 lakh in 2030 and 40 lakh in 2040.Building on the experience with the Sylkiyara Tunnel, detailed geological and hydrological investigations are being carried out. The government has awarded the 12.9 km Sonprayag-Kedarnath ropeway project to Adani Enterprises, which is expected to become operational in 2031-32.It will have a capacity of 1,800 pilgrims per hour and pilgrims can complete a one-way journey in just 40 minutes.
