Shimla: The proposed Shimla ropeways project has been put on hold in view of the Himachal Pradesh govt’s “precarious financial condition”, the state govt has informed the Himachal Pradesh High Court. A division bench comprising Chief Justice Gurmeet Singh Sandhawalia and Justice Bipin Chander Negi was apprised of the govt’s decision while hearing a public interest litigation.As per an affidavit filed in compliance with the court’s March 19 order, the financial bid for the ropeway project has also been cancelled pursuant to an order issued on June 4. The affidavit, however, stated that the state Ropeways and Rapid Transport System Development Corporation (RTDC) was exploring alternative ways to take forward the project through a financially viable model. This includes the possibility of developing the ropeway under a public-private partnership (PPP) model with viability gap funding (VGF), aimed at minimising expenditure by the state govt.The proposed ropeway project has been envisaged as an alternative transport system for Shimla, with the broader objective of easing traffic congestion and improving urban mobility in the hill capital. The high court has deferred further proceedings in the matter to Dec 1.
