The devastation caused by the cloudburst at midnight between Monday and Tuesday has also hurt the Doon–Mussoorie Ropeway project. Heavy debris accumulated at the lower terminal station site of the project located at Purkul. The shuttering and pillars (jacks) installed for duct construction at the site were washed away along with the debris, causing a loss of about ₹15 lakh to the under-construction agency.
Along with this, other construction materials were also swept away with the debris. Meanwhile, because of the debris and rain, the workers stationed there are facing problems in carrying out their work. From a safety perspective too, working at this time is not appropriate for them. This has also affected the pace of the project’s construction.
Construction of the ropeway’s lower terminal station is underway in Purkul village adjoining Dehradun, while the upper terminal station is to be built at Gandhi Chowk, Mussoorie. Because of the debris brought by the disaster, the route leading upward from the ropeway site has been completely damaged.
A large amount of stone debris from the surrounding hills has accumulated there, which is obstructing the workers and making it unsafe for them. The under-construction agency has started the task of clearing the debris by deploying laborers. The agency claims that soon the construction work will regain speed and the project will be completed within the stipulated time.
Scientists Express Concern Over Ropeway Construction
Scientists have expressed concern over the excavation, drilling, and deforestation taking place during the construction of the Doon–Mussoorie Ropeway. They fear that this could invite even greater disasters. However, the under-construction agency has conducted soil testing up to 30 feet at the ropeway site and has also included other necessary tests.
Two Floors of Lower Terminal Station Completed
At the parking area near the ropeway’s lower terminal station, construction work up to three floors has been completed. Out of the 26 towers to be built in the entire project, the foundation work of 13 has been completed, of which nuts and bolts have already been fitted in three. The two-storey building of the lower terminal station has been completed and work on the third floor is in progress.
Completion Claimed by 2026
At the start of 2024, the Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board (UTDB) began construction of the Dehradun–Mussoorie Ropeway through Mussoorie Skywar Company under the Public–Private Partnership (PPP) mode at a cost of ₹300 crore. The tourism department claims that it will be completed by the end of 2026 and operations will begin in 2027.
Travel Time Will Be Only 15 Minutes
During the tourist season, it takes tourists 1.5 to 3 hours to reach Mussoorie from Dehradun. But via the ropeway, tourists will be able to reach in just 15 minutes. By road, the distance from Dehradun to Mussoorie is 33 km, while via the ropeway it will be reduced to only 5.5 km. Around 1,300 passengers will be able to travel one-way per hour.
