By Shishir Prashant 
PrashantNews
Uttarakhand is accelerating plans to develop a network of ropeways spanning nearly 160 km across the state, with 51 projects proposed in partnership with the Centre, as the government seeks to improve connectivity to major religious and tourist destinations.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has directed executing agencies to start work on the ropeway projects on the ground by November 9. The state government sees ropeways as an alternative mode of transport suited to Uttarakhand’s difficult mountainous terrain, while also helping ease traffic congestion and reduce vehicular pollution.
More than 6.03 crore tourists and pilgrims visited Uttarakhand in 2025, according to the state government. With the footfall rising, it has stressed the need for safer and more convenient transport connectivity, particularly to destinations where expanding road networks is difficult.
Among the projects under development is the nearly 5.2-km Purukul-Mussoorie ropeway in Dehradun district. Once completed, the project is expected to reduce the travel time between Dehradun and Mussoorie from around 1-1.5 hours to 15-20 minutes.
The proposed Janki Chatti (Kharsali)-Yamunotri ropeway is expected to provide relief to pilgrims who currently undertake a steep, roughly 5-km trek to the Yamunotri temple.
Another major project is the Thuligad-Purnagiri ropeway in Champawat district. The Purnagiri shrine has attracted 24,62,319 devotees between April 1 and September 19 this year, according to the government.
Housing Secretary R Rajesh Kumar said priority was being given to the Rishikesh-Triveni Ghat-Neelkanth Temple ropeway and the integrated ropeway project in Haridwar. The Neelkanth ropeway will have a proposed length of six km, with a 4.1-km first phase connecting Triveni Ghat with Neelkanth Mahadev Temple. The project is expected to help reduce traffic pressure in Rishikesh.
Under the Chandi Devi-Mansa Devi ropeway project, two new parallel alignments are also being developed in addition to the existing alignment.
The Uttarakhand Metro Rail, Urban Infrastructure and Buildings Construction Corporation has been assigned various ropeway projects in Almora, Dehradun and Nainital districts for feasibility studies.
Dhami said ropeway connectivity was particularly important for Uttarakhand because of its geographical conditions. Besides improving access to religious and tourist destinations, he said ropeways would help reduce pressure on roads, protect the environment and create employment and self-employment opportunities for local residents.