Shimla's Innovative Ropeway: A Leap in Urban Transport

The Himachal Pradesh government will cover only 28 per cent of the Rs 1,734.70 crore cost for the Shimla Innovative Urban Transportation Ropeway Network Project. The 13.65 km ropeway, stretching from Tara Devi to Shimla, would be executed on an EPS mode. Key funding and fare details are yet to be finalized.

The Himachal Pradesh government will shoulder just 28 per cent of the total Rs 1,734.70 crore cost for the Shimla Innovative Urban Transportation Ropeway Network Project, Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri announced in the state assembly on Thursday.

The Ropeway, which spans 13.65 km from Tara Devi to Shimla, will be carried out using the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPS) mode, Agnihotri conveyed in a written response to a query from BJP's Sudhir Sharma.

The interest rate for the project will be decided after a tripartite agreement between the state government, the Finance Ministry, and the Department of Economic Affairs, according to officials. The exact fare for commuters is still under discussion. Additionally, advance purchase tenders will open post-approval from the National Development Bank (NDB). While the state's total contribution is 28 per cent, thanks to loan components, NDB will cover 80 per cent of the costs, 90 per cent of which will be subsidies, the remaining 10 per cent being loans.

(With inputs from agencies.)