Bengaluru's weekend escape transformed: Nandi Hills cable car to offer panoramic views by 2027

Representative photo

After decades of languishing on the drawing board, the ambitious cable car project for Bengaluru’s beloved Nandi Hills is finally edging towards reality, with officials projecting a 2027 completion date for the long-awaited tourist attraction.

According to a TOI report, the crucial land acquisition process for the project's upper terminal is nearing its conclusion, removing a significant hurdle.

The Chikkaballapur district administration is expected to acquire and transfer the required 3.5 acres of private land atop the hills by November of this year.

"This will be a major step forward. We have already finished land acquisition for the lower terminal," a senior tourism department official was cited by TOI as saying. With this final piece of the land puzzle in place, the physical construction of the ropeway is expected to gain significant momentum.

The project, a public-private partnership with Dynamicx Ropeway Private Limited, has also reached a critical administrative phase.

The company has submitted its final project plans for approval to planning authorities in both Bengaluru Rural and Chikkaballapur districts.

These plans must now secure clearances from various departments, including the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB).

Officials anticipate that the necessary approvals will be secured within the next couple of months, paving the way for civil work to commence by the end of this year or early 2025. "We have allotted 1.5 years' time to the company for the completion of the work once it begins," the official added. This timeline points towards a potential operational date by mid-2027.

The 2.9-kilometre ropeway project, which received its foundation stone from former chief minister Basavaraj Bommai in 2023, aims to revolutionise the tourist experience at Nandi Hills.

It will feature 50 semi-closed cabins, ferrying visitors between the lower and upper terminals while offering panoramic views of the lush hills.

The lower terminal is planned as a substantial facility, including parking for more than 200 cars, 110 two-wheelers and multiple buses and vans, alongside a spacious waiting area capable of accommodating up to 600 people.

However, one final regulatory challenge remains. As reported by TOI, the project still requires forest clearance. Sivasankar S, Conservator of Forests, Bengaluru circle, confirmed that one of the proposed supporting pillars currently falls within forest land.

"We have asked them to modify their plan to place the pillar outside that land. Once they do that, we will send the proposal to the ministry of forest and environment for final approval," Sivasankar stated.

The project's final timeline is contingent upon this modification and the subsequent green light from central authorities, bringing a scenic new perspective to one of Karnataka's most popular getaways within sight.