14.13 kilometers Ropeway Project to prove a game changer for the Queen of the Hills: CM Sukhu

The State Government mulls developing and adopting an eco-friendly, clean, and green mode of transport in a big way for the decongestion of Shimla city besides enhancing its tourism potential of the town.  “Developing an efficient transport network is a big challenge, especially in the hilly terrains and remote areas. Creating a transport network in such areas using conventional modes of transportation, i.e. road, rail, and air has multiple technical challenges. Hence, there is a need to de-congest such locations through the use of safe, innovative, and economical modes of transportation” stated Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu.

       The Shimla Ropeway Project will have a network of 14.13 kilometers and it will connect 15 stations at different locations of the city. The total Project cost of this ambitious project is about Rs. 1546.40 crore. This urban ropeway Project will be the second of its kind in the world and the first in India and will go a long way in the decongestion of Shimla city. The State Government is planning to develop similar urban ropeway projects in Dharamshala and Manali Town, he said.

      Ropeway & Rapid Transport System Development Corporation (RTDC), the implementation of this Project, has made substantial progress in the preparation for the DPR of this project which is expected to be completed by 30th June 2023. The drone surveys have been completed and traffic surveys were likely to be completed by mid-April 2023. Apart from this, the Geo-tech investigations and ESIA studies were in process.

Ropeways have emerged as a convenient, safe, and preferred mode of transportation to provide both fast as well as last-mile connectivity to such hilly and inaccessible areas or help de-congest urban areas. Besides being an eco-friendly, clean, and green mode of transport, it will help realize the commitment of the State Government to a Green and Clean Himachal, said Chief Minster.

      Shimla has a population of about 3.08 lakh with an annual tourist influx of around more than 40 lakh. The city has narrow roads with settlements on both sides, which further compounds during the tourist season with thousands of tourist vehicles reaching Shimla daily causing huge traffic jams and inconvenience to the commuters.

This project will prove a game changer with tourists parking their vehicles at the entry point of Shimla and boarding the ropeway network to enjoy the natural beauty and serene setting of Shimla hills.