Explainer: Why ropeway is seen as essential for Shimla

The proposed Shimla innovative urban ropeway project, connecting 13 major stations of Himachal Pradesh’s capital, is being viewed by urban planners as a viable option to rid the town of severe traffic congestion and high carbon emissions.Even though plans to connect various locations in Shimla through an aerial ropeway have been in the pipeline for over a decade, the grant of forest clearance for use of 6 hectares of land for the Rs 1,734-crore Ropeway and Rapid Transport System Development project is expected to expedite the ambitious project.Contours of the projectThe 13.65-km-long ropeway, which will be the second-largest aerial transport system in the world after La Paz in Bolivia, is aimed at decongesting the state capital. The government is keen to expedite the project as traffic jams have become a daily affair in the town, especially during weekends, with Shimla being a popular getaway for visitors from neighbouring Punjab, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir and Uttarakhand.The situation during the peak tourist season in the summer months and around Christmas, as well as during weekends, becomes agonising for both tourists and locals as the number of vehicles entering the town on a single day crosses 10,000 at times.The ropeway, the planners point out, will help minimise the number of vehicles entering the town, which in turn will open up parking space. At present, the parking capacity is grossly inadequate.The ropeway is also expected to become a major tourist attraction. It will also help create the much desired direct as well as indirect employment opportunities.With little scope for expansion of the road network in the erstwhile summer capital of the British, planned for a few thousand people, setting up of an urban ropeway project seems to be the best available option for several reasons. The land requirement for the project would be minimal as compared to road widening or construction of more roads and this, in turn, will prevent axing of trees, mostly the century-old majestic deodars.Cost of ventureThe cost of the project, which will have 13 boarding and deboarding stations linking most parts of the town, has already shot up from Rs 1,555 crore in 2022 to Rs 2,100 crore. The cash-strapped Himachal Government is hoping to get 80 per cent funding from the New Development Bank.The ropeway will have a capacity of ferrying 3,000 persons per hour in each direction. The latest mono cable detachable gondola technology will be used and 660 cabins, having a capacity of carrying 10 persons, will be available every two to three minutes.The ropeway will connect the entire town as it will have stations at Tara Devi, Chakkar-Tutikandi Parking, Old Bus Stand, ISBT, 103 Tunnel, Victory Tunnel, Railway Station, Lift Point, Secretariat, Nav Bahar, Sanjauli, IGMC and Ice Skating Rink.Parking lots will be set up near some boarding stations to accommodate vehicles of tourists.The project is to be run under the public-private partnership (PPP) mode and two bids have already been received, along with queries from numerous other investors.Other such ropewaysThe aerial ropeway set up by a private hotel at Parwanoo, connecting its two units, has been a major attraction for almost four decades, though it has remained in news for cable cars getting stuck.An aerial ropeway connecting Dharamsala with McLeodganj has emerged as a major attraction. There is also a proposal to connect several temple shrines like Naina Devi in Bilaspur, Adi Himani Chamunda in Kangra and Bijli Mahadev in Kullu.Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri, who holds the transport portfolio, said the project would be an important step towards improving the urban transport system in Shimla. “The project would help in easing traffic congestion, cutting carbon emissions and promoting clean and sustainable urban mobility both for locals and tourists,” said Agnihotri.

Explainer: Why ropeway is seen as essential for Shimla

The project, it is expected, will ease traffic congestion & promote sustainable urban mobility

Pratibha Chauhan

Explainer: Why ropeway is seen as essential for Shimla

The project, it is expected, will ease traffic congestion & promote sustainable urban mobility

Pratibha Chauhan

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