India's Longest Ropeway to Connect 11 Destinations in Himachal Pradesh

In a landmark move, the Himachal Pradesh government has announced plans to build India’s longest ropeway, connecting 11 stations across the state. Spanning 40 kilometers, the ropeway will link Parwanoo to Shimla, reducing the travel time between the two destinations to just two hours. The project is set to begin its international tendering process soon.

The primary goal of the ropeway project is to address the ongoing traffic congestion along the current 90 km route between Shimla and Parwanoo. This stretch of road sees heavy traffic, with 20,000 to 22,000 vehicles passing daily, and the number spikes to 45,000 during peak tourist seasons. The situation worsens during the apple harvesting season when trucks transporting produce clog the roads. Although the recent introduction of a four-lane highway has eased traffic to some extent, the ropeway promises a more sustainable and long-term solution to these transportation challenges.

With an estimated investment of INR 5,571 crore, the ropeway project will be developed through a public-private partnership (PPP) model and is expected to be operational by 2030. Initially, the system will have the capacity to transport 904 passengers per hour in each direction, equating to an annual capacity of 25 lakh passengers. By 2063, the system is projected to handle up to one crore passengers annually.

Ajay Sharma, Director of the Ropeways Transport Development Corporation (RTDC), highlighted that the ropeway will not only ease traffic congestion but also boost tourism in the region. Travelers will be able to experience the stunning natural beauty of Himachal Pradesh from a unique and comfortable perspective.

The ropeway will feature modern cable cars equipped with either mono-cable detachable gondola (MDG) systems, capable of carrying 8-10 passengers, or tri-cable 3S systems, which can accommodate up to 25 passengers per car.

The ropeway will include 11 strategically located stations: Tara Devi (Goyal Motors), Tara Devi Temple, Shoghi, Waknaghat, Waknaghat IT City, Karol Ka Tibba, Solan, Barog, Dagshai Cantonment, Jabali, and Parwanoo. Each station will have ticket counters, with pricing details to be finalized upon completion of the project.

ET