SRINAGAR: The plan for ropeway connectivity to the Shankaracharya Temple in Srinagar district of Jammu and Kashmir is progressing, with the ministry of road transport and highways allocating Rs 126.58 crore for it.
The Shankaracharya temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva and believed to be the oldest shrine in the Kashmir valley, is situated atop Takht-e-Suleiman hill in the Srinagar district, standing at a height of 1100 ft above the city’s surface level.
Expected to be operational by December 2026, it aims to reduce travel time between the city and the Hindu shrine to around five minutes. Currently, it takes at least half an hour, mainly by road followed by a short hike.
According to a ministry official, gondolas on a monocable setup will have the capacity to carry 14,000 passengers per day to the temple, located 1,100 feet above Srinagar city. The shrine, dedicated to Hindu deity Shiva, is one of the oldest in the Jammu and Kashmir region and has historical significance.
Union minister Nitin Gadkari said that the ropeway will run from the SDA Parking near Zabarwan Park directly to the temple. This initiative, spanning 1.05 km in Srinagar district, will utilize MonoCable Detachable Gondola (MDG) technology.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), union minister Nitin Gadkari said the ropeway will run from the SDA Parking, near Zabarwan Park, directly to the temple. “Spanning 1.05 km in Srinagar district, this initiative operates on the Hybrid Annuity Mode, utilising MonoCable Detachable Gondola (MDG) technology with a capacity to transport 700 PPHPD (passengers per hour per direction),” he wrote.
The ropeway commute will also offer a panoramic view of Srinagar, including Dal Lake, besides being a faster option for pilgrims. “It ensures easy access for individuals with disabilities and senior citizens to visit the temple, reducing travel time from approximately 30 minutes to about 5 minutes,” Gadkari further said. Additionally, it serves as an eco-friendly mode of transport, and is likely to create employment opportunities by enhancing tourism.
Also, the project aims to be eco-friendly and create employment opportunities by enhancing tourism. Ropeways or cable cars are seen as viable options in challenging terrains, and several new projects, including the Srinagar one, are expected to be ready by 2026.
