Sonprayag is the final point accessible by road for pilgrims heading to the Kedarnath Temple. The Union Cabinet had in March this year approved the ropeway project, expected to cost about ₹ 4,081 crore, to provide pilgrims with a faster, more comfortable and environmentally friendly mode of travel.
The one-km journey, which takes 8-9 hours on foot, can be covered in just 36 minutes via ropeway. The Adani Group will work on the project.
What is the Adani Enterprises Kedarnath project?
Adani Enterprises will develop a ropeway from Sonprayag to Kedarnath. The company has received a Letter of Award (LoA) from the National Highways and Logistics Management Ltd (NHLML). This ropeway project is part of the government’s National Ropeways Development Programme, called Parvatmala, which will be built through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP).
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.”
What can you expect?
Kedarnath attracts about 20 lakh devotees every year.
Currently, pilgrims either walk or use ponies, palanquins, or helicopters to reach the temple. The new ropeway will carry 1,800 people per hour, making the journey easier, especially for senior citizens.
When will it launch?
The construction is expected to take six years, and the ropeway is expected to become operational around 2031. Adani Group will run and maintain the ropeway for 29 years.
(Edited by : Sudarsanan Mani)
