Ropeway terminal under construction in Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh.
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Meenakshi Kapoor/ The Third Pole
“We are not against the ropeway or development,” said Sundar Singh, head of Palchan’s village council. “We are only concerned about the environment and local livelihoods. We want as few trees to be cut as possible and people to be consulted.”
A nine-kilometre ropeway is being built in the north Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. The electricity-powered aerial cable cars will carry tourists between Kothi, an ancient Himalayan village, and the Rohtang Pass, one of the highest passes in the Himalayas. Currently, the only way to reach the Rohtang Pass is a two-hour drive on the congested road from Manali, a resort town near Kothi. The ropeway is expected to reduce this to about 20 minutes.