Kedarnath in 36 minutes: Adani Group to build 12.9-km ropeway from Sonprayag; all you need to know

The Adani Group will construct a 12.9-km ropeway between Sonprayag and Kedarnath in Uttarakhand, cutting travel time to the revered Himalayan shrine from nine hours to just 36 minutes.

Adani shares glimpse of project on X

Sharing a video of the upcoming project on X, Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani wrote in Hindi, “The difficult climb to Kedarnath Dham will now become easier. The Adani Group is constructing this ropeway to make the pilgrimage for devotees simpler and safer. It is a matter of pride for us to be a part of this pious endeavour. May Mahadev continue to bestow his grace upon all. Jai Baba Kedarnath!”

The video visualises the proposed ropeway and highlights that it will be India’s first 3S (tricable) ropeway system, designed using advanced global technologies to ensure maximum safety and comfort.

Each gondola will seat 35 passengers, and the system will carry up to 1,800 passengers per hour in each direction.

Adani Enterprises Ltd. (AEL), the flagship company of the Adani Group, recently received a Letter of Award from the National Highways Logistics Management Ltd. (NHLML) to execute the project under the National Ropeways Development Programme — Parvatmala Pariyojana.

The project will be developed on a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) basis by AEL’s Roads, Metro, Rail, and Water (RMRW) division.

Once operational, the ropeway is expected to significantly ease travel for devotees, especially elderly, women, and children, undertaking the Kedarnath yatra, which currently involves a steep and challenging trek through difficult terrain and unpredictable weather.

Kedarnath attracts nearly 20 lakh pilgrims annually.

The project is estimated to take around six years to complete, after which Adani Enterprises will operate it for a concession period of 29 years.

“The Kedarnath ropeway is more than an engineering project – it is a bridge between devotion and modern infrastructure,” Gautam Adani had said in a statement. “By making this sacred journey safer, faster and more accessible, we honour the faith of millions while creating new opportunities for Uttarakhand’s people through our partnership with NHLML and the Government of Uttarakhand.”

The ropeway is also expected to provide a boost to tourism and generate local employment, contributing to the state’s economy and improving last-mile connectivity in the Char Dham circuit.