The ambitious ₹1,734.70 crore Shimla ropeway project has received first-stage forest clearance from the Regional Office of the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in Chandigarh, paving the way for felling 1,423 trees across urban and rural forest divisions.
The 13.79-kilometer ropeway will require cutting 983 trees in Shimla Urban Forest Division and 440 trees in Shimla Rural Forest Division. The project will utilize 4.5639 hectares in Shimla Urban and 1.6270 hectares in Shimla Rural areas for construction.
Shimla Urban Divisional Forest Officer Pawan Chauhan confirmed that the ministry’s regional office has granted Forest Conservation Act clearance for the project. However, the Ropeway-Rapid Transport System Development Corporation must complete formalities including payment of compensation for trees before receiving second-stage forest approval, after which construction can commence.
The proposed route will run from Taradevi to Chakkar-ISBT, then diverge into two paths. One route will proceed from ISBT through 103 Tunnel-Victory Tunnel-IGMC-Sanjauli-Navbahar to Chhota Shimla. The second will connect ISBT to Railway Station, Old Bus Stand, the Lift area, and terminate at the Secretariat.
The tree felling comes amid concerns about diminishing green cover in the capital city. Over the past two to three monsoon seasons, approximately 1,000 trees have fallen in the capital. Additionally, around 500 trees declared dangerous by joint teams of administration and forest department have already been cut for building safety, further reducing the city’s tree population.
The project aims to provide efficient connectivity across Shimla’s congested terrain, offering an alternative transport solution for residents and tourists navigating the hilly urban landscape. The ropeway is expected to significantly reduce travel time between key locations while addressing traffic congestion challenges in the state capital.
