India, March 5 -- The government on Wednesday approved two ropeway projects in Uttarakhand to reduce travel time for pilgrims to Kedarnath and Hemkund Sahib.

The move is set to transform the Kedarnath experience, one of the most sacred Hindu pilgrims for millions of devotees, as it will reduce the travel or trekking time from 8-9 hours to 36 minutes.

Currently, pilgrims navigate a challenging 16-km uphill trek from Gaurikund to Kedarnath, which can take anywhere from 8 to 9 hours on foot or by pony.

Two ropeway projects, Sonprayag to Kedarnath and Govindghat to Hemkund Sahib, were approved by the union cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday.

The decisions of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), cha...