Guwahati, January 23: In a major step toward enhancing pilgrimage infrastructure and promoting sustainable urban mobility, the ₹213.24-crore Kamakhya Ropeway Project has been announced to connect Kamakhya Railway Station with the revered Maa Kamakhya Temple atop Nilachal Hill. The project is expected to significantly improve accessibility for thousands of pilgrims and tourists who visit one of India's most sacred Shakti Peeths every year.
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The ropeway, spanning 1.43 kilometres, is designed to provide a faster, safer, and more convenient mode of transport to the temple. Once operational, it will reduce travel time between the railway station and the shrine from approximately 20 minutes to just six minutes, greatly enhancing the overall pilgrimage experience.
According to project details, the modern ropeway system will feature 18 state-of-the-art gondolas with the capacity to transport more than 16,500 passengers daily. The initiative is expected to ease pressure on the narrow and often congested hill roads leading to the temple, especially during peak pilgrimage seasons and major religious festivals such as the Ambubachi Mela.
Officials said the project embodies the vision of "Vikas Bhi, Virasat Bhi" by combining modern infrastructure with the preservation of Assam's rich spiritual and cultural heritage. Besides improving connectivity, the ropeway will promote green mobility by reducing dependence on road transport, thereby lowering traffic congestion, fuel consumption, and vehicular emissions around Nilachal Hill.
The project is also expected to generate substantial economic benefits for the region by boosting tourism and creating employment opportunities during both the construction and operational phases. Improved access to the temple is likely to benefit local vendors, transport operators, hotels, restaurants, and other businesses associated with the tourism sector.
Officials believe the Kamakhya Ropeway Project will become a landmark addition to Assam's infrastructure network while setting a new benchmark for pilgrimage-linked transport systems in the country. Once completed, the ropeway is expected to enhance visitor convenience, strengthen Guwahati's tourism appeal, and reinforce the government's commitment to developing modern, environmentally sustainable infrastructure without compromising the state's cultural and religious heritage.
