9-Hour Trek To 36-Minute Ride: Adani Enterprises Gets Kedarnath Ropeway Project Contract
Billionaire Gautam Adani-led group's flagship firm has won a contract to build a nearly 13-km-long ropeway project connecting Sonprayag with Kedarnath, the company said on Monday.
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The RMRW division of AEL will implement the project. (File)
New Delhi:
The flagship company of billionaire Gautam Adani's conglomerate has secured a contract to construct a nearly 13-kilometer ropeway linking Sonprayag to Kedarnath, as announced by the company on Monday.
For pilgrims traveling to Kedarnath Temple, Sonprayag represents the final road-accessible location. In March this year, the Union cabinet approved the ropeway project, estimated to cost approximately Rs 4,081 crore, aimed at providing devotees with a quicker, more comfortable, and eco-friendly travel option.
Covering a total distance of 12.9 kilometers, the ropeway will connect Sonprayag to Kedarnath, a journey traditionally undertaken via a challenging 16-km uphill trek or alternative means such as ponies, palanquins, and helicopters.
"Adani Enterprises Ltd (AEL), the flagship incubator of the Adani portfolio, has received a Letter of Award (LoA) from the National Highways Logistics Management Ltd (NHLML) for building the prestigious ropeway project connecting Sonprayag with Kedarnath," stated the company in a release.
The project will be executed by AEL's Roads, Metro, Rail, and Water (RMRW) division.
"Once operational, the 12.9 km ropeway project will reduce travel time from an arduous 9-hour trek to just 36 minutes, making the pilgrimage far easier and safer. The ropeway will be able to carry 1,800 passengers per hour per direction, serving lakhs of pilgrims each year," according to the statement.
Kedarnath attracts approximately 20 lakh pilgrims annually, underscoring the significance of this project.
The ropeway is incorporated into the National Ropeways Development Programme - Parvatmala Pariyojana. Developed through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, the project has a six-year completion timeline, after which AEL will operate it for 29 years. Beyond enhancing connectivity, the initiative is expected to generate employment and stimulate tourism in the region.
The ropeway may feature advanced Tri-cable Detachable Gondola (3S) technology, capable of transporting 1,800 passengers hourly in each direction, with a daily capacity totaling 18,000 passengers.
"The Kedarnath ropeway is more than an engineering project - it is a bridge between devotion and modern infrastructure," remarked Gautam Adani, Chairman of the Adani Group.
"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." The Kedarnath temple, situated at an elevation of 3,583 meters in Uttarakhand's Rudraprayag district, represents one of the 12 revered Jyotirlingas. It remains accessible for approximately six to seven months annually, drawing nearly 20 lakh pilgrims each year.
(Disclaimer: New Delhi Television is a subsidiary of AMG Media Networks Limited, an Adani Group Company.)