Closure of Gun Hill ropeway leaves tourists disappointed

Tribune News Service

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Mussoorie, February 23

The closure of the Gun Hill ropeway for annual maintenance has left tourists disappointed. The ropeway ferries tourists from Jhoola Ghar to Gun Hill, a tourist destination from where one can enjoy a panoramic view of the Himalayas and the Doon valley.

Shivani, a tourist from Delhi, said the ropeway closure had played a spoilsport. “My children are in boarding school. I had planned holidays in such a way that I could spend quality time with them. However, they felt disappointed after they came to know that the ropeway is closed.”

Manav Jeet Singh, another tourist from Punjab, said he, along with other family members, walked all the way from Library Bazaar to Jhoola only to find the ropeway closed for maintenance. The ropeway was constructed in the 1960s. It is the brainchild of the then Municipal Council president, Hukum Singh Panwar. Earlier, the council would look after its operations. However, for the past several years, it is being leased out to private contractors who manage and look after the maintenance of two cable cars used to

ferry tourists.

Tourists demanded that the repair work should not be carried out in the peak season. The authorities should publicise its closure on time so that tourists do not return disappointed.

On the other hand, executive officer, MC, RK Dayal said repair work was being carried out keeping in view safety and technical aspects. He said the ropeway would begin functioning in a couple of days.