The Karnataka government plans to bring in the ‘Karnataka Tourism Ropeways Bill, 2024’ to facilitate the development of ropeways/cable cars across key tourist destinations in the state.
"The Karnataka government is committed to establishing ropeways and cable cars at major heli-tourism sites to enhance tourism. This legislation will cover the installation, operation, and maintenance of ropeways across Karnataka," said Salma K Fahim, state tourism secretary.
Karnataka will be the first state in South India to enact a dedicated ropeways bill. The state tourism department has identified potential locations for cable car projects, including Nandi Hills near Bengaluru, Anjanadri Hills in Koppal, Madhugiri Fort in Tumakuru, Mallalli Falls in Kodagu, Savadatti Yallammana Gudda in Belagavi, Ballari Fort, Yadgir Fort, Nrupatunga Hills in Hubballi, Devaragudda in Haveri, Holamma Temple in Gadag, Kalakaleshwara Temple in Gadag, and Mylaralingeshwara Temple in Yadgir.
"Several states already have a ‘Ropeway Act,’ which streamlines the approval process for these projects. Karnataka, with its diverse hilly terrains, will benefit from ropeway connectivity. It will offer a sustainable transport solution with minimal environmental impact," an official said.
“The government recently invited an expression of interest (EOI) for developing ropeways in multiple locations to attract industry stakeholders. Within three months, we expect to finalise project locations after feasibility and technical studies. The agreements with developers should be in place within six months," the official added.
The official said the bill would be placed before the Cabinet and the legislature. “By the time the locations are identified and developers selected, this legislation should be in place to streamline the project rollout," the official said.
Karnataka’s first ropeway in Nandi Hills
Officials said Karnataka's first ropeway project will be at Nandi Hills, near Bengaluru. In July 2024, the state tabled the Karnataka Government Parks (Preservation) (Amendment) Bill 2024, allocating two acres at Nandi Hills for the ropeway’s 2.93-km-long upper terminal. Leased for 30 years, the project is being implemented under a public-private partnership model. Though the foundation stone was laid in March 2023, land transfer issues among departments have caused delays. The upper terminal sits on horticulture department land, while the lower terminal is on Bengaluru Rural district land, with forest land also along the planned route.
“There were some delays due to land acquisition and reconfigurations. Nandi Hills’ eco-sensitive status requires multiple clearances, and coordinating with agencies like horticulture and tourism has taken time. However, the project remains on track, and work is expected to begin soon,” the official added.
Ropeway projects in the state have faced roadblocks in the past. Similarly, a cable car project near Jog Falls encountered obstacles due to its location in an ecologically sensitive area. A ropeway at Chamundi Hills, proposed in the mid-1990s, has also been stalled due to opposition from activists.
Implementation in multiple states
Many states, especially in the Northeast, have implemented a ropeway Act. For instance, Uttar Pradesh has the United Provinces Aerial Ropeways Act, 1922; West Bengal, the Bengal Aerial Ropeways Act, 1923; Maharashtra, the Maharashtra Aerial Ropeways Act, 1956; Rajasthan, the Rajasthan Ropeways Act, 1996; Himachal Pradesh, the Himachal Pradesh Aerial Ropeways Act, 1968; Uttarakhand, the Uttarakhand Ropeways Act, 2014; Jammu and Kashmir, the J&K Aerial Ropeways Act, 2022; Odisha, the Odisha Ropeways Act, 1967; Assam, the Assam Aerial Ropeways Act, 2022; and Meghalaya, the Meghalaya Ropeway Act, 2022.
From the snow-clad mountains of the Himalayas to the valleys of Darjeeling, many tourist spots in India offer cable car rides to explore the beautiful landscapes in the country.
Ropeways, which are a mode of transportation that involves cable cars suspended in the air and moving between the lower and upper stations, are popular rides among tourists. Some of the popular destinations offering cable car rides include Gulmarg Gondola, the Auli Cable Car in Uttarakhand, the ropeways at Dhuandhar in Madhya Pradesh, Karni Mata in Udaipur, Girnar in Gujarat, Raigad in Maharashtra, Malampuzha in Kerala, and the Darjeeling and Gangtok ropeways, among others.
Recently, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari said India has 360 proposals for ropeway and cable cars worth $7.93 billion.
More ropeways coming up at tourist spots have boosted tourism at heritage sites, making it more accessible for the elderly and people with disabilities. Ropeways have also made spiritual destinations more family friendly.
Successful ropeway projects like Damodar Ropeways in Digha, Pushkar, Gangtok and Chitrakoot, among others, have led to more regions exploring the possibility of installing ropeways in popular heritage sites.
Travel experts note that a large chunk of recovery post-Covid came from spiritual tourism and this segment will have higher value like luxury tourism when hotel infrastructure develops in these destinations.
The Indian tourism market is estimated to record a compound annual growth rate of 7-8 percent while spiritual tourism is expected to grow 9-10 percent for the next five to seven years.
Karnataka's tourism push
Karnataka unveiled its new tourism policy on October 28 aiming to be among the top three markets in terms of domestic tourist visits with a target of attracting 48 crore tourists in India and 20 lakh foreign tourist visits by the end of the fifth year of the policy.
A priority sector of the state, tourism has an important role to play in Karnataka becoming a $1 trillion economy by 2032, the state said in its tourism policy document.
Karnataka has seen a multi-fold growth in domestic tourist visits, from 3.67 crore in 2006 to 28.35 crore in 2023. The state attracts nearly 10 percent of overall domestic tourist visits in India, placing it fourth among Indian states.
Karnataka saw over 4.01 lakh foreign tourist arrivals in 2024, signalling a strong recovery from
the Covid-19 pandemic. As per the Economic Survey of Karnataka 2022-23, the state’s tourism sector contributes one out of every 10 jobs in the state.
The state has also estimated the creation of direct employment for at least 47,000 people and indirect employment opportunities for one lakh people through its tourism initiatives.
Karnataka is looking at developing at least 30 major tourist destinations, one for each district under the One District One Destination scheme.
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