The long-awaited Dehradun-Mussoorie ropeway project is expected to restart soon after a temporary halt due to heavy rains. Officials confirmed on Saturday that clearance work is in progress and efforts are being made to bring the project back on track.
The ropeway, designed on a Monocable Detachable Grip Ropeway System, will have around 54 cabins. Each cabin can seat 10 passengers, which means that thousands of tourists will be able to use it every day once the project is finished.
The project is a major initiative of Uttarakhand Tourism and promises to cut travel time between Dehradun and Mussoorie from nearly 1–2 hours to just 15 minutes. It is also expected to reduce traffic congestion on the hilly roads and provide a smoother experience for visitors heading to the popular hill station.
Construction of the ropeway came to a halt on September 15, when heavy rainfall caused severe damage at the project site. According to officials, the lower terminal station at Purkul was badly affected as debris entered the area. In addition, scaffolding and pillars used for duct construction were washed away in the rain.
The access road leading to nearby settlements above the Purkul terminal was also damaged, making it difficult for construction vehicles and workers to reach the site.
Deepak Khanduri, Director (Infrastructure) at Uttarakhand Tourism, explained that the construction company has already started clearing debris and is preparing to resume building work. He added that some changes in the road planning have also caused delays.
Earlier, the road used by the construction team was under the control of the PMGSY authorities, who had built it on land belonging to the tourism department. This created issues for the ropeway construction. Now, the road is being handed back, but the Public Works Department (PWD), which has been assigned to build an alternate route, has not yet begun work. This delay has slowed down the project further.
Progress and future plans
Despite these setbacks, significant progress has been made at the ropeway site. Officials shared that two floors of the lower terminal station at Purkul have already been completed. Once the monsoon rains settle, the construction firm plans to increase its workforce to speed up the remaining work.
The government aims to complete the ropeway by 2026. Once operational, it will serve as a game-changer for tourism in Uttarakhand. Tourists will enjoy a faster, safer, and more scenic route to Mussoorie, while locals will benefit from reduced traffic on the roads.
The ropeway will cover a distance of 5.5 kilometres from Purkul Gaon in Dehradun to Library Chowk in Mussoorie. The system has been designed with both tourist comfort and safety in mind.
At the Purkul terminal, facilities will include:
Boarding and deboarding zones
Parking for at least 1,500 vehicles
Passenger holding and waiting areas
Ticket counters
Office blocks
Accommodation for staff
Public conveniences and service spaces
Similarly, the upper terminal at Library Bazaar in Mussoorie will be equipped with waiting areas, ticket counters, office blocks, staff quarters, and service zones. These facilities are expected to make the travel experience smooth and convenient for passengers.
The ropeway will be able to carry more than 7,000 passengers during peak tourist days and about 4,000 passengers on normal days. This capacity will not only ease traffic but also provide a reliable mode of travel for visitors who often face delays due to road congestion, landslides, or bad weather.
The state cabinet had already approved height relaxations for the ropeway terminals back in 2022, clearing one of the major hurdles for the project.
The Dehradun-Mussoorie ropeway is one of the most ambitious infrastructure projects taken up by the Uttarakhand government in recent years. It is expected to bring multiple benefits, such as:
Tourism growth: By reducing travel time drastically, the ropeway will attract more domestic and international tourists.
Traffic reduction: With thousands of tourists shifting to the ropeway, road traffic between Dehradun and Mussoorie will decline, improving safety.
Environmental benefits: Less road traffic means lower vehicle emissions, helping the fragile mountain ecosystem.
Employment opportunities: The construction and later operation of the ropeway will create direct and indirect jobs for locals.
For years, traffic jams and long travel times have been a constant complaint for those visiting Mussoorie. The ropeway is being seen as a sustainable alternative that combines speed with comfort.
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Officials remain confident that despite the recent monsoon-related damages, the project will continue moving forward. The clearing of debris at Purkul is already underway, and once the PWD begins work on the alternate access road, construction will speed up.
If the current timeline is maintained, the ropeway will be ready for public use by 2026. For both tourists and locals, this project is expected to transform the travel experience and give a big boost to Mussoorie’s image as the “Queen of Hills.”
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