Why in News? 

The Union Cabinet has recently approved two significant ropeway projects in Uttarakhand under the National Ropeways Development Programme – Parvatmala Pariyojana.  

About 

The National Ropeways Development Programme, popularly known as Parvatmala Pariyojana, was introduced in the 2022-23 Union Budget to enhance connectivity in hilly and remote areas. 

• Led by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, the initiative aims to establish safe, cost-effective, efficient, and world-class ropeway infrastructure for first- and last-mile connectivity. 
• Projects include: Govindghat to Hemkund Sahib Ji (12.4 km) and Sonprayag to Kedarnath (12.9 km) 
• It focuses on improving transport accessibility in mountainous regions and reducing congestion in urban areas where conventional transport modes are either saturated or impractical. 
• The programme is designed to boost tourism and facilitate travel in difficult terrains, including dense forests and urban landscapes. 

Key Features 

• The Centre has identified 200+ projects under this programme, with a total estimated cost of ₹1.25 lakh crore. 
• The projects follow a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, where the Government of India provides approximately 60% financial support. 
• Implementation is carried out by National Highways Logistics Management Limited (NHLML), a wholly owned subsidiary of NHAI.