Dehradun: The Uttarakhand government has signed an agreement with the National Highways Logistics Management Limited (NHLML) to develop 50 ropeway projects across the state, marking a significant step toward sustainable mobility in the hill region. A new entity, Uttarakhand Ropeway Development Limited, will oversee the implementation, issue Letters of Award to developers, and ensure coordination of the projects.
The initiative is designed to ease traffic congestion, reduce pressure on fragile mountain roads, and minimize environmental risks such as soil erosion, landslides, and vehicular emissions. Authorities emphasized that ropeways, unlike traditional road expansion projects, require less deforestation and land alteration, making them more suited to Uttarakhand’s ecological conditions.
The planned network will connect key destinations including Dehradun Airport, Tanakpur, Pantnagar Airport, the Chardham circuit covering Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri, along with routes to Pindari Glacier, Munsiyari, Dharchula, and the Kailash and Om Parvat areas. One of the priority projects is the Kathgodam–Nainital–Kainchi Dham corridor, intended to address increasing pilgrim footfall and recurring traffic bottlenecks near the shrine of Neem Karoli Baba.
Officials stated that the ropeway network is expected to support tourism, improve accessibility for pilgrims, and generate local employment opportunities, while also serving as a model of green transport for other hill states. The government has underlined its intent to integrate modern infrastructure with climate-sensitive planning to balance development with ecological preservation.
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