An overview – India’s 13 Cable car plans

The Indian state of Himachal Pradesh is looking for a mobility revolution. The cable car system lies at the heart of this. 13 cable car projects are currently under discussion, with the aim of not only improving the transport system in the mountain state but also boosting tourism.

If you were to summarise the cable car projects currently under discussion in Himachal Pradesh, “The Times of India” reports that you would find 13 projects with a total length of approx. 111 kilometres and an estimated cost volume of Rs 5,644 crore (approx. 672 m euros).

Overview of cable car plans

  1. In the district of Chamba, a cable car has been proposed between Vhanodi and Killar, over the Sach pass. The total length would be 21.7 kilometres.
  2. Another project in this district is the 0.25-kilometre cable car link between Chamba and Chaugan.
  3. In Kullu district there are three projects under discussion. First: the connection of Prini and the Hamta Pass in Manali.
  4. Another is being considered in Manli itself. The length would be approx. 11.2 kilometres. The estimated costs amount to approx. 500 million rupees (approx. 5.9 million euros).
  5. The third cable car planned for Kullu district would be a connection between Manali and Ladadugh with a total length of 2.7 kilometres.
  6. In Kangra district, a cable car is planned between Palampur, Thathri and the Chunja glacier, with a total length of 13.5 km and estimated costs of 605 m rupees (approx. seven million euros).
  7. In Dharamshala, things are a step further on: the cable car is due to open in the summer.
  8. Two cable car projects are currently being considered for Shimla district. First: a connection between Narkanda and Hatu Peak, with a total length of 3.1 kilometres.
  9. A further project is in Shimla and has a total length of 22.4 kilometres.
  10. A three-kilometre cable car is under discussion in the mountain town of Kasauli, in the district of Solan.
  11. In the district of Bilaspur, they would like to construct a cable car link between Lunhu and Bandla.
  12. In the district of Sirmaur, a cable car project has been proposed in Churdhar with a total length of eight kilometres and estimated costs of 250 m rupees (approx. three million euros).
  13. To conclude, there is the roughly three-kilometre cable car project between Shikawari and Bhatkidar in the district of Mandi.

This list of cable car ideas in just one of India’s federal states is a clear indication of the potential of such transport systems in many areas.