Parvatmala

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Rajgir Ropeway in Bihar, India's first ropeway.

The ropeway in India (also known as aerial lift, cable car or chair lift) is a public transportation system where cabins, gondolas or open chairs are hauled above the ground with the help of cables.[1][2] India's Parvatmala Scheme (literally "mountain garland scheme"), the world's largest ropeway project, envisages spending ₹1,250 billion (US$15 billion) in public–private partnership (PPP) mode over five years till 2030 to build 200 new ropeway projects of more than 1200 km length, which will decongest the traffic in narrow roads of big cities and provide cheaper connectivity in mountainous and touristy areas.[3] Since 30% of India is covered by mountains,[3] the ropeways are specially useful in mountainous areas, where it is difficult to build roads or railway, as lower cost and higher Return on investment (ROI) projects.[1][2] This article also contains a list of "glass bridges in India" ("glass skywalks in India"), which are mostly glass bridge skywalk.

Rajgir Ropeway in Bihar, 333m-long chairlift ropeway built in 1960s, is India's first ropeway.[4] As of 2024, the 4 km-long Auli Ropeway in Uttarakhand is India's longest[5] and world's the second-longest ropeway behind Vietnam's 7,899.9 m long Hòn Thơm cable car,[6] and when completed the under-construction 5.5 km-long Mussoorie-Dehradun Ropeway will be the longest in India.[5] Kashi ropeway is India's first urban ropeway,[7] and world's third urban public transport ropeway behind Bolivia's Mi Teleférico opened in 2014 and Mexico City's Mexicable opened in 2021.[8]

As of 2025, all 36 states and union territories (UT) of India have either existing or planned ropeways, except in the UTs of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Lakshadweep, and Puducherry.

History

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In 1960s, the first modern ropeway in India was built at Rajgir, which was a gift to the Vishwa Shanti Stupa, Rajgir by the famous Japanese Buddhist monk Fuji Guruji (Nichidatsu Fujii) and socialist leader Jai Prakash Narayan was the first person to take a ropeway ride.[4]

List of ropeways

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Alphabetical list by the state and union territories of India.

Andaman and Nicobar Islands

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Andhra Pradesh

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Project Location State/UT Description
Srisailam ropeway Shri Sailam Andhra Pradesh * It was constructed in year 2005. It is 700 m long, mono-cable PFG ropeway.
Visakhapatnam ropeway Vishakhapatnam It is a 800 PPH (person per hour) capacity, 350 m long ropeway at Kailasagiri.

Arunachal Pradesh

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Ropeways in Arunachal Pradesh are:

Assam

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Ropeways in Assam are:

  • Guwahati Umananda Island ropeway: Twin-track, bi-cable, double reversible jigback ropeway of 1800m length and 250 PPH capacity is India's longest river ropeway. It is built across Brahmaputra River over Umanand Island and allows easy transportation to and from North Guwahati.

Bihar

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  • Rajgir Ropeway in Bihar, 333m-long chairlift ropeway built in 1960s, is India's first ropeway.[4]

Chandigarh

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  • Chandigarh-Mansa Devi Ropeway: proposed ropeway will begin from the Chandigarh Botanical, with stops at Rock Garden, Sukhna Lake, Mata Mansa Devi Mandir railway station, and end at Mata Mansa Devi Mandir hill top. No progress has been made as of September 2025. There is also proposal to extend it further 15 to make it part of Parwanoo-Shimla Ropeway.

Chhattisgarh

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Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu

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Gujarat

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Girnar Ropeway, in Gujarat.

Ropeways in Gujarat are:

  • Ambaji ropeway, Ambaji, Gujarat - Installed by Project M/s S.N Lall, MEC ( Aarconinfra Ropeways ) for client Usha Breco Limited, known as Ambaji Udan Kahtola. Ropeways also known as 4th busiest ropeway of India. This ropeway is at Maa Ambaji Devi Temple since 1998. This ropeway has 760PPH capacity.
  • Pavagadh ropeway to Kalika Mata Temple: It was built in 1986. After it was upgraded in 2005 to 1320 PPH capacity with modern technology, it became highest capacity in India. It is third busiest ropeway of India.

Goa

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Haryana

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Ropeways in Haryana are:

  • Gurugram district
    • Dhaula Kuan-Manesar ropeway from Delhi to Gurugram, planned, nearly 40 km long pod ropeway with 200 km/h speed will cutdown over 1 hr travel time to few minutes, with stopover at IGI Aerocity, repeatedly announced by the MoRTH minister Gadkari several times include in Sept 2025.[14]

Himachal Pradesh

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Ropeways in Himachal Pradesh are:

  • Bilaspur ropeway: It is one of the 7 ropeway projects, of 60.6 km combined length, approved for construction in Himachal Pradesh in September 2022 at the total combined cost of nearly INR2964 crore (~US$355 million).[15]
  • Chamba ropeway: It is one of the 7 ropeway projects in Himachal approved for construction in September 2022.[15]
  • Dharamshala ropeway: It is one of the 7 ropeway projects in Himachal approved for construction in September 2022.[15]
  • Kangra ropeway: It is one of the 7 ropeway projects in Himachal approved for construction in September 2022.[15]
  • Kullu ropeway: It is one of the 7 ropeway projects in Himachal approved for construction in September 2022.[15]
  • Devi ropeway: It was built in 1997 with 800 PPH capacity.
  • Parwanoo Timber Trail ropeway: It is India's first Hill to Hill ropeway which is 1.8 km long without pillars in between the LTP (Lower Terminal point) and UTP (Upper Terminal Point). This bi-cable ropeway, with capacity of 1000 PPH, was built in 1988 for the Timber Trail Resort.
  • Parwanoo-Shimla Ropeway: a proposed 40 km, 11 station ropeway line, taking two hours for the entire length, expected to be completed by 2030. [16] There is proposal to link it with Chandigarh-Mansa Devi Ropeway by extending it 25 km south to make it one integrated ropeway.
  • Shimla Jakhu Temple ropeway: This is 410 m long, double-grip, mono cable ropeway, with 400 PPH capacity was built in 2017.
  • Shimla Tara Devi Temple ropeway: It was approved for construction in September 2022. This 14.67 km long ropeway with 15 stations will cost INR1546 crore (~US$200 million).[15]
  • Sirmaur ropeway: It is one of the 7 ropeway projects in Himachal approved for construction in September 2022.[15]

Jammu and Kashmir

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Gulmarg Gondola – The Cable Car of Gulmarg, Kashmir.

Ropeways in Jammu and Kashmir are:

  • Gulmarg Gondola at Gulmarg: This ski resort has the 2nd highest cable car in the world and Asia's highest and longest cable car reaching an altitude of 13,400 ft.[18]
  • Jammu ropeway: it is 1.65 km long cable car, with first section from Peer Kho to the Mahamaya temple over the Tawi River and second section is from the Mahamaya temple to the Bahu Fort.
  • Ramban ropeway: planned from Karchial to Vasmarg in Ramban district, tenders for preparation of DPR have been invited in March 2025.[17]
  • Sonmarg-Thajiwas ropeway: 1.60 km long from Sonmarg to Thajiwas, tenders for preparation of DPR have been invited in March 2025.[17]
  • Srinagar Shankracharya Temple cable car: 1.05 km planned.[17]
  • Vaishno Devi ropeway: It is a 375 m long, bi-cable, double reversible jigback ropeway with 800 PPH capacity to carry passengers from The Bhavan to Bhairon temple.

Jharkhand

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Ropeways in Jharkhand are:

Karnataka

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Ropeways in Karnataka are:

Kerala

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Ladakh

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Lakshadweep

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Madhya Pradesh

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Ropeways in Madhya Pradesh are:

  • Bhopal ropeway: 400 PPH capacity, 600 m long ropeway.
  • Bheraghat ropeway at Marble Rocks in Jabalpur is under construction.
  • Chitrakoot ropeway: 302 m long ropeway with 500 PPH capacity. This Aerial Ropeway is situated at Hanuman Dhara in Chitrakoot in Madhya Pradesh.
  • Dewas ropeway: 400 PPH capacity 367 m long ropeway ascends from the junction of two national highways right up to Maa Chamunda Temple and Tulja Bhawani Mata Temple, while simultaneously being home to a Jain Temple and a Mosque.
  • Maihar Maa Sharda Devi ropeway: It was built in 2009 with 800 PPH capacity.

Maharashtra

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Ropeways in Maharashtra are:

Manipur

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Meghalaya

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  • Shillong Ropeway: planned in 2022 is under-construction in 2025.[23]

Mizoram

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  • Aizawl-Sairang-Lengpui Ropeway: proposed in 2025.[24]

Nagaland

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  • Kohima Ropway: planned, MoU signed with MoRTH in January 2025.[25]

National Capital Territory–Delhi

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  • Delhi-Yamuna Ropeway: planned along and across Yamuna river, MoU signed with MoRTH in 2025.[25]

Odisha

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Ropeways in Odisha are:

  1. Nicco Park ropeway
  2. Nnandkanan Botanical garden ropeway

Puducherry

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Punjab

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Rajasthan

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Ropeways in Rajasthan are:

  • Jodhpur Siddhanath ropeway: Started construction in 2020.
  • Pushkar ropeway at Savitri Mata Temple: Takes 6 minutes to cover a distance of 720 mtrs.
  • Jalore ropeway in Jalore district, Rajasthan

Sikkim

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Ropeways in Sikkim are:

  • Gangtok ropeway: Built in 2003, this ropeway ferries tourists from one part of the city to another and offers a panoramic view of the full Gangtok city. This ropeway also serves to de-congest the city.
  • Namchi ropeway: It is a 2.75 km long cable car. Another ropeway is also there in yangang area, Sikkim
  • Gyalshing Ropeway in Sikkim

Tamil Nadu

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View of Palani from Dhandayuthapani Swamy Temple Ropeway.

Telangana

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Coal Handling Ropeway near Pamulapalli.
  • Pamulapalli Coal Ropeway: existing, for transporting coal.

Tripura

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Uttarakhand

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Ropeways in Uttarakhand are:

  • Chamoli District
    • Auli ropeway: This is 4.2 km ropeway constructed in 1987 by Aarconinfra Ropeways ( earlier Method & Erectofab Consultant) and it was then considered as India's longest and second longest ropeway in Asia at the time of its construction.[26]
  • Dehradun district
    • Bhatta falls ropeway
    • Mussoorie ropeway: It is India's first cabin /gondola based ropeway which was constructed in 1971 by Aarconinfra Ropeways ( earlier Method & Erectofab Consultant) and It is 400m long, bi-able zig back with 400 PPH capacity.[27]
    • Rishikesh Tapovan-Kunjapuri Shakipeeth ropeway
    • Sahastradhara ropeway
  • Nainital district
    • Nainital ropeway: Constructed in 1990 by Aarconinfra Ropeways ( earlier Method & Erectofab Consultant), it is 2270m long bi-cable, zig-back, 1200 PPH capacity ropeway with 2 wagons which can carry 8 persons each.[27]
  • Rudraprayag District
    • Kedatnath Ropeway: Rs 4,081 crore 12.9 km Sonprayag to Kedarnath proposed system, based on the advanced Tri-cable Detachable Gondola (3S) technology with a capacity of 1,800 passengers per hour per direction (PPHPD) carrying 18,000 passengers per day, reduces the 8–9 hours trek for a pilgrim to 36 minutes. In September 2025 thr contract for construction was awarded to Adani group.

Uttar Pradesh

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Ropeways in Uttar Pradesh are:

West Bengal

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Ropeways in West Bengal are:

  • Darjeeling ropeway: 2000 PPD capacity, 2.3 km long, detachable-grip type, six-seater, multi-cabin, gondola type ropeway.
  • Digha cable car: It was built in 2015 is within the premises of Amrabati Park and traverses the beautiful lake and greenery of the park. Digha is a seaside resort town in Purba Medinipur district and at the northern end of the Bay of Bengal.
  • Kolkata Science City ropeway: Built in 1998, with 500 PPH capacity in the heart of city Kolkata.[32]
  • Nicco Park

List of glass bridges

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This is a list of glass bridges in India, by state.

  • Andhra Pradesh
  • Maharashtra
    • Lonavala Tiger Point Skywalk, a 125 meter long, 6 meter wide, horseshoe-shaped glass-bridge skywalk at Tiger Point in Lonavala, will commence construction in 2025 with target completion by June 2027.[36]

See also

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  • Targeted projects
    • Bharatmala, India's project to connect all district headquarters with highways
    • Golden Quadrilateral, India's project to connect major cities of India forming a quadrilateral
    • Setu Bharatam, India's project to make all nationla highways railway crossings free
    • Sagar Mala, India's project to modernise and connect all shipping ports
    • UDAN, India's project for regional civil aviation connectivity

References

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  1. ^ a b "Tracing the course of infra technology : Indian ropeways have been used since the 1970s". Financial Express. 20 April 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Top 5 ropeways rides in India". Intermiles. 26 October 2020.
  3. ^ a b जमीन के बाद आसमान में 'सड़क' बनाएंगे गडकरी, खर्च होंगे 1.25 लाख करोड़, दुनिया का सबसे बड़ा प्रोजेक्‍ट शुरू, News18, 24 Jan 2024.
  4. ^ a b c Rajgir: Bihar's highest revenue earning tourist destination is a story of neglect, India Today, 5 September 2018.
  5. ^ a b India's longest ropeway is a game-changer for Mussoorie and Dehradun, India Today, 26 Oct 2023.
  6. ^ Hon Thom Cable Car (Vietnam): The longest cable car in Southeast Asia, aseanrecords.world, 6 may 2022.
  7. ^ ‘Amazing confluence of faith and technology’: PM Modi on India’s first urban ropeway system in Varanasi. Top points, Hindustan Times, 29 mar 2023.
  8. ^ India To Be Third Country To Have Public Transport Ropeway. Here's A Look At Other Nations Where It Operates, Abp Live, 23 mar 2023.
  9. ^ PM Modi inaugurates model of proposed Netaji memorial in Andaman, The News Minute, 23 Jan 2023.
  10. ^ "1 dead in Chhattisgarh ropeway mishap". The Times of India. February 29, 2016. Retrieved 2021-09-01.
  11. ^ "Ropeway mishap at Dongargarh near Nagpur; woman killed, 3 injured; Maintenance flaws alleged". Nagpur Today : Nagpur News. 2016-03-01. Retrieved 2021-09-01.
  12. ^ "Rajkot: 33-year-long wait over, Girnar ropeway project gets green nod". The Indian Express. 2016-09-17. Retrieved 2020-05-13.
  13. ^ Extension for concessionaire as ropeway project revived, timesofindia, 17 Mar 2025.
  14. ^ धौलाकुआं से मानेसर के लिए शुरू होगा रोपवे ट्रांसपोर्ट, 200 kmph होगी अधिकतम स्पीड, MSN News, accessed 16 Sept 2025.
  15. ^ a b c d e f g शिमला में बनेगा एक और रोपवे, तारा देवी को शहर से जोड़ेगा, 1546 करोड़ रुपये होंगे खर्च, News18, 16 sept 2022.
  16. ^ "Himachal to launch India's longest ropeway between Shimla, Parwanoo by 2030". 21 January 2025.
  17. ^ a b c d e f Amarnath Yatra : बालटाल से श्री अमरनाथ गुफा तक बनेगा रोपवे, डीपीआर पर काम शुरू; सुगम होगी अमरनाथ यात्रा, msn.com, 23 March 2025.
  18. ^ "A Family Ski Adventure in the Himalayas". The New York Times. 14 January 2019.
  19. ^ Sabarimala ropeway project nears final clearance, New Indian Express, 27 Aug 2025.
  20. ^ Centre plans to begin work on 18 ropeway projects spanning 90 km in next few months, FirstPost, 5 Oct 2022.
  21. ^ Mumbai metro rail corporation plans ropeway link between aarey metro and film city with possible extension to national park, India Times, 2 Aug 2025.
  22. ^ India: Manipur unveils first ropeway in Imphal East, connecting foothills to Marjing Polo Complex, WION, 4 May 2025.
  23. ^ Shillong ropeway, East Mojo, 21 Aug 2025.
  24. ^ Mizoram govt mulling construction of ropeway between Aizawl and Lengpui, Economic Times, 16 Jan 2025.
  25. ^ a b c d e MoUs Inked for Ropeways in Four Northeast States under Parvatmala Pariyojana, sentinelassam.com, 25 Jan 2025.
  26. ^ "Auli-Joshimath ropeway reopens after over 6 months". Times of Indi. 20 October 2020.
  27. ^ a b Aarconinfra Ropeways.
  28. ^ Staff Reporter (2022-12-28). "VS Engg bags contract to build India's first urban ropeway project in Varanasi". Metro Rail News. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
  29. ^ "PM to lay foundation for India's 1st public transport ropeway in Kashi tomorrow". Hindustan Times. 2023-03-23. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
  30. ^ "Varanasi news today: PM Modi lays foundation of India's first public transport ropeway worth Rs 645 crores in Kashi - Check Varanasi ropeway project map, tender and other details". TimesNow. 2023-03-24. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
  31. ^ "Ropeway Project: रोपवे बनने से खत्म हो जाएंगे काशी विद्यापीठ के चार विभाग, भारत माता मंदिर के अस्तित्व पर भी संकट". Amar Ujala (in Hindi). Retrieved 2023-03-30.
  32. ^ "SCIENCE CITY – Damodar Ropeways & Infra Limited".
  33. ^ Vizag glass skywalk to open by Sept 25; set to be country’s longest cantilever glass bridge, Indian Express, 8 Sept 2025.
  34. ^ a b c Glass Bridges in India, housing.com, accessed 2 February 2024.
  35. ^ "Enjoy a thrilling walk on India's longest glass bridge at Vagamon". OnManorama. Retrieved 2023-08-27.
  36. ^ 125 m long glass bridge skywalk at Tiger Point Lonavala, Times of India, 22 Feb 2025.