📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / UnpetitproleX
Politics
Himachal CM Sukhu Calls for Private Investment in State Ropeway Network
✍️ punjabnewsline.com
🗓 03 Sep 2026, 07:35 AM
👁 22
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has opened the Himachal ropeway project to private investors, after scrapping a ₹2,700‑crore Shimla development plan.
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu announced that the Himachal Pradesh government will seek private sector participation to develop a network of ropeways across the state. The move aims to boost tourism, improve connectivity in remote hill areas and reduce road traffic congestion.
In a press conference held in Shimla, the CM said that the ropeway projects will be floated on a public‑private partnership model, inviting interested investors to submit proposals under transparent guidelines. He emphasized that private capital will help accelerate construction and bring modern technology to the initiatives.
The announcement comes as the government has abandoned a previously planned ₹2,700‑crore development scheme for Shimla, citing financial constraints and shifting priorities toward sustainable infrastructure. Officials indicated that funds earmarked for the scrapped project could be redirected to the ropeway venture.
State officials are expected to release detailed tender documents in the coming weeks, outlining project scopes, expected investment sizes and revenue‑sharing arrangements. The CM urged investors to view the ropeway network as a long‑term opportunity to serve both locals and tourists.
The initiative reflects a broader trend among Indian states to leverage private expertise for large‑scale infrastructure, especially in challenging terrains where conventional road projects are costly and environmentally sensitive.
In a press conference held in Shimla, the CM said that the ropeway projects will be floated on a public‑private partnership model, inviting interested investors to submit proposals under transparent guidelines. He emphasized that private capital will help accelerate construction and bring modern technology to the initiatives.
The announcement comes as the government has abandoned a previously planned ₹2,700‑crore development scheme for Shimla, citing financial constraints and shifting priorities toward sustainable infrastructure. Officials indicated that funds earmarked for the scrapped project could be redirected to the ropeway venture.
State officials are expected to release detailed tender documents in the coming weeks, outlining project scopes, expected investment sizes and revenue‑sharing arrangements. The CM urged investors to view the ropeway network as a long‑term opportunity to serve both locals and tourists.
The initiative reflects a broader trend among Indian states to leverage private expertise for large‑scale infrastructure, especially in challenging terrains where conventional road projects are costly and environmentally sensitive.