India’s costliest ropeway to come up between Sonprayag and Kedarnath; Rs 4,081 crore PPP project to give govt 42% revenue share without funding; 13km link to reduce journey to just 36 minutes

Adani Group is set to build a 12.9-km ropeway between Sonprayag and Kedarnath at a cost of Rs 4,081 crore, which will drastically reduce the journey time for pilgrims from 8–9 hours to just 36 minutes. The ropeway will have the capacity to transport 18,000 people per day, or around 32 lakh per year, and the project is expected to be completed within six years. (Photo credit: AI Image)

Adani Enterprises received the Letter of Award (LoA) and will develop the project in six years under the public-private partnership (PPP) mode with National Highways Logistics Management Ltd (NHLML). (Photo credit: AI Image)

The ropeway will be executed by Adani Enterprises Ltd's Roads, Metro, Rail, and Water (RMRW) division, which handles large infrastructure projects. (Photo credit: AI Image)

The ropeway will operate using Tri-cable Detachable Gondola (3S) technology, with each gondola accommodating 36 passengers and a total capacity of 1,800 passengers per hour per direction. (Photo credit: AI Image)

Kedarnath sees around 20–23 lakh pilgrims annually, and the ropeway is expected to significantly ease access to the shrine during its six-month annual opening period.

The government will earn around 42% of revenue from the project without any investment, as Adani Enterprises has quoted this share in partnership with NHLML. (Photo credit: AI Image)

The project is part of the National Ropeways Development Programme – Parvatmala Pariyojana, aimed at modernizing mountain transportation across India. (Photo credit: AI Image)

After construction, Adani Enterprises will operate the ropeway for 29 years (some sources mention 35 years for fare collection, operation, and maintenance), ensuring long-term management and upkeep. (Photo credit: AI Image)

Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani 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 while creating new opportunities for Uttarakhand’s people through our partnership with NHLML and the government of Uttarakhand. This prestigious project reflects our commitment to building infrastructure that not only serves the nation but also uplifts its people.” (Photo credit: AI Image)

The project attracted multiple bidders, with three out of four offering revenue sharing. NHLML had cancelled bids twice previously before approving the Rs 4,081 crore project on PPP mode to handle the large expected number of pilgrims efficiently. (Photo credit: AI Image)