The much awaited country’s longest urban ropeway project in Himachal Pradesh will soon see the light of the day, as the state government is all set to float its global tender.

This was disclosed by Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri here on Friday, while talking to media persons.

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This project will become the second longest in the world after La Paz in Bolivia, he claimed, adding that the Ropeway and Rapid Transport Development Corporation Limited (RTDC) will soon undertake the 13.55 km-long, eco-friendly ropeway project to be constructed at the cost of Rs1,550 crore.

Agnihotri said that the government has taken almost all types of NOC’s for the same and the entire project is targeted to be completed in 5 years.

The project will be a tri-party agreement and dialoge with BRICS Bank, National Development Bank and the Central government has been completed, he said, adding that 72 percent will be grant in aid, 8 percent shared loan and the state government will have 20 percent state equity.

Increasing traffic congestion in Shimla had become a major issue in the globally acclaimed city that has both domestic as well as foreign tourists visiting each year and exploring the viability aerial ropeway was seen as an eco-friendly alternative targeting a population for next 40 years, he added.

This ropeway will have three lines and initially there will be 220 cabins, which will be upgraded to total 660 cabins with a carrying capacity of 8 to 9 passengers, he added.

The aerial ropeway will connect 13 stations including  Taradevi, Chakkar, New ISBT, state Secretariat and Sanjauli.

He further said that about twenty thousand people will get direct and indirect employment in the ropeway project that will be constructed from October next year keeping in mind the global standard of safety.

Agnihotri disclosed that the state government is also mulling to start another aerial ropeways project about 38 kms long connecting Parwanoo to Shimla.

More ropeway projects are in the pipeline that have been cleared include Chintpurni Mata project to be built at a cost of  Rs 75 crore, ropeway project connecting Jabali to Kasauli, other projects in Bir-Billing and Baba Balak Nath temple project.

Agnihotri said that as there is a lot of potential for aerial ropeway projects in Himachal Pradesh and the state is eyeing to become a leading state of the country in terms of ropeway transport.