New ropeway to take you directly to Darjeeling

How about giving up the toy train and taking a ropeway to reach the hill station of Darjeeling? With the Hills showing signs of re-opening again, winter might be great fun in the Hills. Soon, tourists will be able to explore the scenic beauty of the hill station and its lush green surroundings via an aerial route. Not on a conventional aircraft or helicopter but on a ropeway. This will facilitate visitors reach the hills right from the plains and the route will be faster and shorter as well.

The new route, scheduled to be completed in six months’ time, has been planned from Rohini to Giddapahar. Aneet Thapa, vice president of Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) Board held a meeting with the agency hired to install the ropeway and instructed the officials to complete the construction within the stipulated six months’ time. Thapa was categorical and said it was necessary to boost tourism in the hills and construction of the ropeway was the result of the initiative. 

An estimated Rs 16 crore has been earmarked for the ropeway construction. If everything goes according to plan, the ropeway will be operational next year and tourists will be able to avail the service alongside other modes of transport like the toy train and rented vehicles. At present the forest department runs a ropeway service at Singmari, operated by a private company and it is very popular among tourists. 

The present vice chairman of GTA board, Aneet Thapa insists they are confident they will be able to prove their worth and regain the trust of the locals by using the allotted funds for construction and development of the area. Local businessmen who are in the tourism sector are finally seeing a ray of hope.The new route will encourage adventure sports enthusiasts to try it out.