Amarnath ropeway project moves ahead, 10-hour Baltal trek to become a 40-minute journey

Preparations are underway for the construction of ropeway projects on both the Baltal and Pahalgam routes leading to the Amarnath shrine. Work on the project is scheduled to begin next year, with completion expected by 2029. Once operational, the proposed 9-kilometre ropeway on the Baltal route will reduce the current 10-hour journey to approximately 40 minutes. The project will be developed under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) mode.

The Detailed Project Report for the ropeway has been prepared, and a pre-feasibility report has been completed by National Highways Logistics Management Limited, a subsidiary of the National Highways Authority of India. The proposed ropeway projects include the Baltal-Amarnath Bhawan and Pahalgam-Amarnath routes. The project aims to facilitate easier access to the shrine while supporting tourism and economic activity.

The Amarnath Yatra 2026 is scheduled to begin on July 3, with security tightened along both the Baltal and Pahalgam routes. At present, no ropeway facility is available for the pilgrimage. Helicopter services have also been suspended after the pilgrimage route was declared a no-fly zone, requiring pilgrims to travel on foot or use mules, ponies or palanquins.