The 12.9 km ropeway is expected to transform one of India's most challenging pilgrimages by reducing the journey time from the current 8 to 9-hour trek to just 36 minutes, the company said in a release.
The Yatra was scheduled to resume today, but due to incessant rain at Bhawan and the track, the commencement of the Vaishno Devi Yatra stands postponed till further orders.
The pilgrimage to the holy shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi was suspended for 14 days in a row due to adverse weather conditions and multiple landslides in the region.
Ahead of the Shardiya Navratras, Sachin Kumar Vaishya, CEO of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB), convened a joint meeting on Saturday in Katra.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Friday met with the Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu for a discussion on strengthening aviation infrastructure in the state and resuming helicopter services for Char Dham Yatra.
Pilgrims are advised to carry valid identification, follow designated pathways and cooperate with on-ground staff. Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)-based tracking remains mandatory for ensuring transparency and traceability.
The border crossings for Indian pilgrims undertaking the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra are now operational, enabling them to return to India via Nepal safely and smoothly, the Indian Embassy in Beijing said.
Ayodhya District Magistrate Nikhil Tikaram Funde said the pilgrims are safe but requested the Centre to arrange return flights, noting that their stay is far from the border, making travel by road difficult amid the unrest.
Authorities have cited safety concerns as persistent rainfall has triggered landslides and blocked tracks leading to the shrine, making movement unsafe for pilgrims. The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway also remains disrupted at several points due to landslides and road damage, further com
Himachal Pradesh Revenue, Tribal Development, and Horticulture Minister Jagat Singh Negi on Saturday said that 99 per cent of pilgrims stranded during the Manimahesh Yatra in Chamba district have been rescued after torrential rains and floods forced suspension of the pilgrimage.