The Union Cabinet has approved transfer of 1500 square metres of land belonging to Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) at Mussoorie to the State Government of Uttarakhand for their infrastructure project, namely, ‘Aerial Passenger Ropeway System’ between Dehradun and Mussoorie.
The proposed Ropeway is a mono-cable ropeway of 5580 meters length under Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode between Purkul Gaon, Dehradun (Lower Terminal Station) and Library, Mussoorie (Upper Terminal Station) being constructed at an estimated cost of Rs.285 crore with a carrying capacity of 1000 persons per hour per direction.
This will considerably reduce the traffic flow on road route from Dehradun to Mussoorie. A travel time of more than an hour (almost two hours during peak time) will be reduced to just 15-20 minutes. Idea is to use it as a proper transport service by linking ropeway stations on both sides with bus stations, railway stations and even airport. It will also ease the parking issue in Mussoorie.
Ropeway will save Mussoorie valley from huge pollution. It will also be an all-weather connectivity, thus giving smoother options for commuters in peak winter and snowfall.
In addition, this will generate direct employment of 350 and indirect employment of more than 1500 people. Once completed, the ropeway will be a huge attraction for tourists which in turn will provide a boost to the tourism industry in the State and create additional employment opportunities in tourism sector.
Then Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat had laid out the foundation stone for the Ropeway Project on March 06, 2019.
The project was conceptualised in 2007-08 and was accorded the status of large revenue generating project (LRG). Yet it failed to get all the forest clearance and was caught in red tape. After a delay of nearly 12 years, Rs 300 crore project started moving. It is expected to be completed in three years.
Ropeway is being constructed in PPP mode and a French company Poma is slated to provide technical assistance. Once completed, it will be among the longest ropeways in the world.