To ease traffic congestion and significantly reduce travel time to Shimla, the Himachal Pradesh government is set to introduce the country’s longest ropeway project. Spanning 40 km between Parwanoo and Shimla, the project aims to cut travel time to just two hours.
The state plans to issue a global tender by the end of this month or early next month, with construction commencing soon after the tendering process concludes. The ropeway will feature 11 stations, including Tara Devi, Shoghi, Waknaghat, Solan, Barog, and Parwanoo, offering passengers flexibility to travel the entire length or disembark at any station.
The system will use either a mono-cable detachable gondola (MDG) or tri-cable 3S technology, accommodating 8–25 passengers per car. The project, expected to cost ₹5,571 crore, will operate under a public-private partnership (PPP) model and aims to carry 904 passengers per hour in each direction, with an estimated annual capacity of 25 lakh passengers initially, peaking at one crore by 2063.
Ajay Sharma, Director of the Ropeways Transport Development Corporation (RTDC), highlighted that the ropeway will alleviate traffic on the 90 km stretch between Shimla and Parwanoo, currently used by 20,000–22,000 vehicles daily and up to 45,000 during peak seasons. Heavy apple-laden trucks often cause delays, extending travel times to up to five hours.
Anticipated for completion by 2030, the ropeway will provide a seamless and efficient travel experience, complementing the ongoing development of the four-lane highway to Shimla.
