Himachal to be developed as tourism hub on lines of Switzerland: Deputy CM

SHIMLA 6th September, 2025

Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri said that large-scale ropeway projects were being set up in the state to promote tourism and connectivity. These projects would not only strengthen religious tourism but also provide an alternative means of transport. Further, it would also boost the state economy besides generating employment opportunities for the youth.

He said that final approval has been granted for a 13.79 km ropeway project in Shimla. The project, costing about Rs. 1,734.70 crore, would be completed within the next four years. It would include three lines, 14 sections and 13 stations, linking the State Secretariat, hospitals, schools, railway station and the bus stand.

He said that under the Smart City Project, 19 infrastructure projects worth Rs. 50 crore and three more projects worth Rs. 25 crore would be completed in Shimla by December, 2026.

Mukesh Agnihotri said that three major ropeway projects were under construction to promote religious tourism in the state. These include the Baba Balaknath temple ropeway at a cost of Rs. 65 crore, the Bijli Mahadev ropeway costing Rs. 278.62 crore and the Mata Chintpurni Temple ropeway worth Rs. 76.50 crore. All of these projects were targeted to be completed by June 2027.

He said that realizing the dream of promoting rural connectivity, country’s first rural ropeway (Baglamukhi ropeway) was inaugurated in December, 2024. The project built at a cost of Rs. 53.89 crore has already benefitted around 69,000 passengers. During natural disasters this ropeway also serves as a lifeline for locals and relief operations.

Taking a major step towards tourism connectivity, the work on the 1.20 km Dhalpur to Peej ropeway in Kullu was on war-footing. This project would be completed at a cost of Rs. 80 crore and was expected to be completed by June, 2027.