By Peerzada Mohsin Shafi
Srinagar- The plan to lift travel in Jammu and Kashmir to higher ground took a clear step Wednesday as the National Highways Authority of India opened technical bids for preparing Detailed Project Reports for seven proposed ropeways across the Union Territory.
Four consultancy firms have entered the contest. Bernard Gruppe ZT GmbH, ILF Consulting Engineers India, Aakar Abhinav Consultants and SA Infrastructure Consultants are now being evaluated on their technical proposals.
One of them will help shape projects that could change how people move through some of the region’s most remote valleys.
The government first invited bids for five ropeways in September 2025. The list soon grew to seven, stretching from the high meadows of Sonamarg and Doodhpathri to the pilgrimage routes of Baltal and Pahalgam, and further south to Bhaderwah, Sanasar and the Shankaracharya hilltop in Srinagar.
According to the bid documents, the chosen consultant will compare global and Indian ropeway systems and study eight benchmark projects.
The work will look at technology choices, terrain challenges, safety standards, equipment requirements and expected passenger demand.
Officials say the goal is to bring modern, efficient and safe ropeway systems to mountains that are both beautiful and fragile.
If built, the ropeways could cut long, winding road journeys into short aerial rides. They are expected to ease congestion on busy routes, shrink travel time for pilgrims and tourists and offer an eco-friendly option at a time when road pressure is rising.
The Detailed Project Reports will decide whether each route is feasible and what kind of system makes sense on the ground.
The reports will also shape cost estimates and the strategy for phased construction. Once approved, the projects will move to execution.
For Jammu and Kashmir, the ropeway plan is part of a wider push to upgrade infrastructure, expand tourism and open new jobs in areas where work is scarce.
Officials say the effort could redefine access to some of the region’s most visited peaks and valleys.
