📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / UnpetitproleX
Politics
CM Sukhu seeks private investment for Himachal ropeway network
✍️ Punjab Newsline
🗓 03 Sep 2026, 03:34 AM
👁 4
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has opened the state's ropeway projects to private investors, aiming to accelerate tourism infrastructure after scrapping a ₹2,700‑crore Shimla scheme.
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu announced on Monday that the state will invite private sector participation to develop ropeway projects across key tourist destinations. The government said it will provide necessary clearances, land allocation and fiscal incentives to facilitate rapid implementation.
The decision comes as the administration has withdrawn a previously planned ₹2,700‑crore Shimla development scheme, signalling a shift toward leveraging private capital for infrastructure. Sukhu emphasized that ropeways can improve connectivity in hilly terrain and boost visitor numbers.
Investors have been asked to submit detailed project proposals within a stipulated timeframe, after which the state will evaluate and award contracts based on feasibility and financial viability. The ropeway initiative forms part of a broader tourism push aimed at generating employment and enhancing the state's appeal to domestic and foreign travelers.
State officials indicated that several routes, including those linking Shimla, Manali and Dharamshala, are under preliminary study, and that the private partnership model will reduce the fiscal burden on the state while ensuring modern, safe transport solutions.
The move has been welcomed by industry bodies, which view private involvement as a pragmatic approach to address the high capital costs of ropeway construction in the mountainous region.
The decision comes as the administration has withdrawn a previously planned ₹2,700‑crore Shimla development scheme, signalling a shift toward leveraging private capital for infrastructure. Sukhu emphasized that ropeways can improve connectivity in hilly terrain and boost visitor numbers.
Investors have been asked to submit detailed project proposals within a stipulated timeframe, after which the state will evaluate and award contracts based on feasibility and financial viability. The ropeway initiative forms part of a broader tourism push aimed at generating employment and enhancing the state's appeal to domestic and foreign travelers.
State officials indicated that several routes, including those linking Shimla, Manali and Dharamshala, are under preliminary study, and that the private partnership model will reduce the fiscal burden on the state while ensuring modern, safe transport solutions.
The move has been welcomed by industry bodies, which view private involvement as a pragmatic approach to address the high capital costs of ropeway construction in the mountainous region.