Uttarakhand Government to build Rishikesh-Neelkanth Mahadev Ropeway with ₹450 Crore outlay

Exam-focused facts from the 21 May 2026 current affairs briefing.

Key facts

The Uttarakhand government is preparing to launch the 6.5 km Rishikesh-Neelkanth Mahadev Ropeway project.
The project has an estimated budget outlay of approximately ₹450 crore to improve access for pilgrims.
The ropeway will reduce the travel time between Rishikesh and the hill shrine from nearly three hours to 15 minutes.
The alignment passes through the Rajaji Tiger Reserve (RTR), which serves as a movement corridor for Asian elephants, leopards, sambar, cheetal, and several primates.
The National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) has issued directions for special protection measures, with forest land transfer pending an assessment by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII).