Himachal's High-Flying Plans: ₹1,734 Crore Shimla Ropeway Approved

The Himachal Pradesh government has approved a ₹1,734.70 crore ropeway project in Shimla, Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri announced on 6 September 2025. Spanning 13.79 km, the ropeway system will include three lines, 14 sections, and 13 stations, connecting key locations such as the Secretariat, schools, hospitals, the railway station, and ISBT. Construction is expected to be completed within four years.

Simultaneously, 22 Smart City Mission projects worth ₹75 crore are set to be completed in Shimla by December 2026, further enhancing urban infrastructure.

The state is also accelerating the development of multiple ropeway projects across key religious and tourist destinations:

Baba Balaknath Ropeway – ₹65 crore, Bijli Mahadev Ropeway – ₹278.62 crore, Mata Chintpurni Ropeway – ₹76.50 crore
All three are targeted for completion by June 2027.

In Kullu, work is underway on the 1.20 km Dhalpur–Peej ropeway, being developed at a cost of ₹80 crore.

In a notable achievement, Himachal inaugurated India’s first rural ropeway at Baglamukhi in December 2024, built at ₹53.89 crore. It has already ferried nearly 69,000 passengers, playing a crucial role in disaster relief and rural connectivity.

Looking ahead, a 38 km Shimla–Parwanoo ropeway project worth ₹5,602.56 crore is being planned under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, reflecting the state’s long-term vision for sustainable transport and tourism infrastructure.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.