SONPRAYAG–KEDARNATH ROPEWAY
Adani Enterprises Ltd. (AEL), the flagship company of the Gautam Adani-led group, has been awarded a ₹4,081-crore contract under a public-private partnership (PPP) with National Highways Logistics Management Ltd. (NHLML) to build a 12.9-kilometer ropeway connecting Sonprayag to Kedarnath in Uttarakhand The Tribune+4The Economic Times+4The Times of India+4.
Sonprayag, the last point accessible by road on the Kedarnath pilgrimage route, currently requires pilgrims to undertake a demanding 8–9-hour uphill trek. Once complete, the ropeway will slash that journey to just 36 minutes, offering a major upgrade in comfort, safety, and speed for around 20 lakh pilgrims who visit Kedarnath annually Wikipedia+3mint+3The Tribune+3.
The project is to be built under the National Ropeways Development Programme – Parvatmala Pariyojana, designed to develop ropeway infrastructure across mountain regions in India up to 2030 Wikipedia. Adani’s Roads, Metro, Rail and Water (RMRW) division will execute the construction, with completion targeted within six years. After that, AEL will run the ropeway for 29 years on a revenue-sharing basis with NHLML ETInfra.com+2The Tribune+2.
According to company statements, the ropeway will use advanced tri-cable detachable gondola technology (3S), capable of ferrying up to 1,800 passengers per hour in each direction. That translates to a potential daily throughput of up to 18,000 pilgrims mint+2The Financial Express+2.
Gautam Adani, Chairman of Adani Group, described the ropeway as “more than an engineering project – a bridge between devotion and modern infrastructure.” He added that it honours the faith of millions while creating new opportunities for the people of Uttarakhand through improved tourism and employment ETInfra.com+2The Tribune+2.
The ribbon-cutting for the project came after the Union Cabinet cleared it in March 2025. Since then, the Ministry has ramped up efforts to partner with private firms via the Parvatmala scheme to modernize mountain connectivity. The Kedarnath project is viewed as a flagship among many planned ropeways in the region mint+1.
Once operational, the steep trek and reliance on ponies, palanquins, or helicopters during peak pilgrimage season will largely be supplanted by this cable-car system. This is expected to reduce weather-dependent risks, better manage footfalls, and reduce environmental strain in the sensitive Himalayan terrain The Tribune+1.
Economically, the ropeway is expected to generate direct and indirect jobs, from construction and operations to hospitality and ancillary services in the region. It should also extend the pilgrimage season and boost non-pilgrim tourism in Rudraprayag district The Tribune+2The Financial Express+2.
In summary, the Sonprayag-Kedarnath ropeway represents a landmark project marrying infrastructure with tradition. By cutting the punishing trek to 36 minutes, increasing capacity to 1,800 PPHPD and easing access for nearly 20 lakh pilgrims a year, it stands poised to transform pilgrimage experience in Uttarakhand. After six years of construction and 29 years of operation by Adani Enterprises, the region could see a lasting uplift in safety, tourism, employment and spiritual access.
