“The construction of a ropeway raises concerns about pollution, traffic jams, landslides, and questions of priorities for Himachal Pradesh.”
Ongoing ropeway construction near the Shimla Lift area, a key access point to Mall Road, is disrupting the lives of locals & tourists alike. Safety concerns, dust pollution, unnecessary traffic congestion, and reported minor landslides near the Lift in Shimla have been an issue. Contrary to all expectations, the current Lift already has an easy connection to Mall Road, and it does so in the process of raising doubts about what the benefits of the project will be for ease of travel, emissions and tourism boost. The government in Himachal Pradesh is making rapid strides in expanding its borrowing from ₹51,000 crores in 2018 to the present figure of ₹1.10 lakh crore, which must leave it with the choice of choosing ambitious infrastructure over public safety, local needs and financial responsibility.