Adani group to build 13-km ropeway to Kedarnath, will reduce 9-hour trek to 36-minute ride
Pilgrimage to Kedarnath will soon become easier and faster. The Adani Group has received a contract to build a 13-km ropeway from Sonprayag to Kedarnath. This will reduce the 9-hour uphill trek to just 36 minutes, benefiting lakhs of pilgrims each year.
Dehradun: In a big development for pilgrims visiting Kedarnath, the Adani Group has been given the contract to build a nearly 13-kilometre-long ropeway between Sonprayag and Kedarnath.
Once completed, this project will reduce the current 9-hour trek to just 36 minutes, making the journey faster, safer, and more comfortable for lakhs of devotees.
Trek to Kedarnath is 22 km long uphill journey
Sonprayag is the last place accessible by road on the way to Kedarnath Temple. From there, pilgrims usually trek 22 km uphill or take ponies, palanquins, or helicopters to reach the temple. The new ropeway project will make this difficult journey easier for people of all ages.
Adani Enterprises Limited received the Letter of Award (LoA) from the NHLML
The ropeway will be built by Adani Enterprises Limited (AEL), the flagship company of the Gautam Adani-led Adani Group. AEL received the Letter of Award (LoA) from the National Highways Logistics Management Ltd (NHLML) to build the ropeway under the government’s Parvatmala Pariyojana, a national ropeway development programme. Speaking about the project, Gautam Adani, Chairman of the Adani Group, said, "The Kedarnath ropeway is more than an engineering project – it is a bridge between devotion and modern infrastructure. By making this sacred journey safer, faster, and more accessible, we honour the faith of millions.”
Capacity to carry 1,800 passengers per hour in each direction
According to the company, the ropeway will have the capacity to carry 1,800 passengers per hour in each direction. It will use advanced Tri-Cable Detachable Gondola (3S) technology, and the total daily capacity is expected to reach 18,000 passengers.
Ropeway is being built on PPP model
The project will take about six years to complete. After that, Adani Enterprises will operate the ropeway for 29 years. The ropeway is being developed under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model and is expected to cost around Rs 4,081 crore.
Ropeway is expected to boost tourism and employment in the region
Once operational, this ropeway is expected to boost tourism, create local jobs, and reduce the environmental impact of the pilgrimage, as fewer ponies and helicopters will be used. The company also says the ropeway will offer a safe and eco-friendly travel option for pilgrims.
With this modern ropeway, the government and private sector aim to make the Chardham Yatra smoother and safer while also boosting Uttarakhand’s infrastructure and economy. The ropeway is expected to help senior citizens, people with health conditions, and small children, who often find the long and steep trek very difficult.