Cabinet gives a nod to transfer of ITBP Land for development of Aerial Passenger Ropeway System in Mussoorie

Harshita Rai/ Ajay Ramola
GG News Bureau,
New Delhi/Dehradun,  12th May. The Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved transfer of 1500 square metres of land belonging to Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) at Mussoorie to the State Government of Uttarakhand for their infrastructure project, namely, ‘Aerial Passenger Ropeway System’ between Dehradun and Mussoorie.

The proposed Ropeway is a mono-cable ropeway of 5580 meters length under Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode between Purkul Gaon, Dehradun (Lower Terminal Station) and Library, Mussoorie (Upper Terminal Station) being constructed at an estimated cost of Rs.285 crore with a carrying capacity of 1000 persons per hour per direction. This will considerably reduce the traffic flow on-road route from Dehradun to Mussoorie.

In addition, this will generate direct employment of 350 and indirect employment of more than 1500 people. Once completed, the ropeway will be a huge attraction for tourists which in turn will provide a boost to the tourism industry in the State and create additional employment opportunities in the tourism sector.
Union Education Minister Dr. Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ in a Cabinet meeting today expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and Uttarakhand Chief Minister Tirath Singh Rawat after the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) approved a proposal to transfer 1500 sq m of land at Mussoorie to the Government of Uttarakhand at market rates for the 5580 m long aerial passenger ropeway system between Dehradun-Mussoorie. He said that the project will boost tourism and strengthen development in Uttarakhand.
The Minister of Tourism, Satpal Maharaj said that after the construction of this ropeway It will become a major tourist attraction and will also give impetus to the development of the state and also increase employment opportunities. Minister said that the project will provide employment to 350 persons directly and indirect employment to more than 1500 indirectly.
“The Dehradun-Mussoorie ropeway project is envisaged to be a model of infrastructural excellence for tourism in the State of Uttarakhand,” Said Dilip Jawalkar, Secretary, Tourism.
It will be one of the fifth-longest mono-cable disabled passenger ropeways in the world and will reduce the travel time from Dehradun to Mussoorie by 20 minutes once it is completed.
The secretary of tourism said that with this project being a Public-Private (PPP) partnership project, it will become a major source of revenue for the State Government. The ropeway will be favourable for all-weather and this world-class infrastructure will attract domestic and foreign tourists and contribute to the GDP of the State.
However, more than 80 slum-dwelling families who resided at the proposed site for the ropeway terminal at Library Bazaar in Mussoorie and were ousted to make way for the project were of the view that the project lamented that the draconian project has not only taken roof from over their heads but livelihood too. They demanded rehabilitation before the start of the project from the prime minister and were hopeful that he would look into the matter sympathetically.
One ropeway system with only two cable cars exist presently in Mussoorie which has become old and is in need of repair.