NEW DELHI – The Adani Group has secured a prestigious contract to construct a 12.9-kilometer ropeway connecting Sonprayag to the revered Kedarnath temple, a project that will dramatically transform the journey for millions of pilgrims. Once completed, the ropeway is set to become the world's longest at such high altitude, reducing a challenging 8-9 hour trek to a mere 36-minute ride.

Adani Enterprises Ltd. (AEL) has received the Letter of Award (LoA) from the National Highways Logistics Management Ltd. (NHLML) for the ambitious project, which is part of the government's National Ropeways Development Programme—Parvatmala Pariyojana. Valued at approximately ₹4,081 crore, the project will be executed on a public-private partnership (PPP) model.

The new ropeway will provide a safer, faster, and more convenient mode of transport for the estimated 2 million devotees who visit Kedarnath annually. Currently, pilgrims must undertake an arduous uphill trek from Gaurikund, which is physically demanding and often impacted by weather conditions. The state-of-the-art ropeway, with a capacity to carry 1,800 passengers per hour, will offer an all-weather alternative, significantly easing the pilgrimage, especially for the elderly and those with health constraints.

Adani Group Chairman, Gautam Adani, highlighted the dual significance of the project. "The Kedarnath ropeway is more than an engineering project—it is a bridge between devotion and modern infrastructure," he said. "By making this sacred journey safer, faster, and more accessible, we honor the faith of millions while creating new opportunities for the people of Uttarakhand."

The construction of the ropeway is expected to take six years, after which Adani Enterprises will operate the facility for 29 years. Beyond its immediate benefits to pilgrims, the project is poised to stimulate economic growth, generate employment opportunities, and boost tourism in the region, aligning with the "Make in India" initiative and the country's focus on modern infrastructure.