All Activities of Dharamshala Ropeway -Temporarily Suspended
Deputy Commissioner Kangra and Chairman of the District Disaster Management Authority, Hemraj Bairwa, has ordered the immediate suspension of all activities of the Dharamshala Ropeway (Skyway), connecting Lower Dharamshala to McLeodganj, citing passenger safety concerns following a landslide near the project site.
Arvind Sharma
Aug 20, 2025 05:08
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Dharamshala, August 20, 2025: Deputy Commissioner Kangra and Chairman of the District Disaster Management Authority, Hemraj Bairwa, has ordered the immediate suspension of all activities of the Dharamshala Ropeway (Skyway), connecting Lower Dharamshala to McLeodganj, citing passenger safety concerns following a landslide near the project site.
According to the report submitted by the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (Civil) Dharamshala, a landslide occurred near pillar number 5 of the ropeway, creating a potential risk to passenger safety. Exercising powers under Sections 30 and 34 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, the Deputy Commissioner directed that operations remain suspended until further orders.
The ropeway’s operating agency has been instructed to ensure strict compliance, while the SDM (Civil) Dharamshala has been asked to form a technical committee comprising geological experts from the Central University Dharamshala, officials from various departments, and representatives of the Dharamshala Municipal Corporation. The committee will inspect the site within two days and submit its report.
The Deputy Commissioner stated that a final decision regarding the resumption of ropeway services will be taken based on the committee’s findings. Meanwhile, the District Superintendent of Police and the SDM (Civil) have been directed to ensure enforcement of the suspension order.
DHARAMSHALA SKYWAY: KEY FACTS
• Inauguration: January 2022 by then Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur
• Route: 1.8 km aerial link between Dharamshala and McLeodganj, reducing a 9 km road journey (often traffic-congested) to just 5 minutes
• Infrastructure: 10 support towers, 18 gondolas (capacity of 8 passengers each)
• Passenger Capacity: 1,000 passengers per hour in one direction
• Cost: Built at ₹207 crore under a public–private partnership between Dharamshala Ropeway Limited, TRIL Urban Transport, Himachal Pradesh Tourism, and the Civil Aviation Department (construction began in 2018).
