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Shimla ropeway clears key hurdle as 820 trees face the axe

According to the Forest Survey of India’s 2021 assessment, 47.21 percent of Shimla’s 5,131 sq km geographical area is under forest cover.

4 min readShimlaNov 17, 2025 08:42 PM IST

Shimla ropeway clears key hurdle as 820 trees face the axe

The Rs. 1,743.40 crore Rapid Ropeway Transport System is among northern India’s most ambitious urban mobility projects. (File Photo)

The forests that cradle Shimla with their misty slopes and deodar-scented ridges may soon lose a slice of their quiet canopy. About 820 trees are set to be felled across 6.1990 hectares of forest land, their roots making way for steel towers and concrete stations meant to transform how the hill town moves. For a city defined by its green silence, the shift carries both the promise of mobility and the pang of loss.

The Rs. 1,743.40 crore Rapid Ropeway Transport System is among northern India’s most ambitious urban mobility projects. Spread over a 13.79 km stretch with 13 stations and nearly 90 towers rising from forested slopes, the ropeway aims to ease Shimla’s worsening traffic and parking mess. Implemented by the Ropeway and Rapid Transport System Development Corporation (RTDC), it has just received Stage-I forest clearance from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), allowing the state forest department to begin the final leg of land transfer under Stage-II.

Officials said the trees identified for felling include around 400 deodars, 150 oaks, 135 kail (blue pines), and several broadleaf species, shrubs and bamboo. The forest land marked for diversion cuts through key city pockets such as US Club, Nabha, Benmore, Nav Bahar, Chhota Shimla, Lakkar Bazaar, Chaura Maidan, Tara Hall and Kaithu, and stretches out to Sankat Mochan, Up Mohal Shanan-2, Up Mohal Bag, Aarakshit Van Sandal and Jungle Mangaltoo in the rural belt.

According to the Forest Survey of India’s 2021 assessment, 47.21 percent of Shimla’s 5,131 sq km geographical area is under forest cover.

A senior forest officer told The Indian Express that RTDC will be required to plant nearly 4,125 saplings, mostly deodar, across 12 hectares at the Samani beat in the Luhri range of Ani Forest Division, Kullu district. The valuation of the trees stands at Rs. 4.62 crore, while the overall compensatory requirement, including plantation, land cost and soil conservation, comes to around Rs. 11.80 crore and may rise to Rs. 19 crore. “This amount must be deposited by RTDC with the state and Centre before final approval is issued,” the officer said.

Documents uploaded on Parivesh, MoEFCC’s online portal, show that 4.5639 hectares of the forest land fall in urban Shimla and 1.6270 hectares in rural areas. Nearly 85 percent of the diversion is within city limits. A source said the proposal clarified that not all trees across 6.1990 hectares will be felled.

Shimla Conservator of Forests K Thirumal said compensatory afforestation is mandatory wherever forest land is diverted. “User agencies can take up CA anywhere in India, but most states prefer to carry it out within their boundaries. The site at Luhri was identified and finalised by the department. Under CA rules, the user agency has to compensate for twice the area taken,” he said.

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Divisional Forest Officer (Urban) Shimla Pawan K Chauhan said the department has completed tree enumeration, valuation and identification of CA land. “Deodar dominates Shimla’s forest belt, so valuation was done tree-wise. Since adequate CA land isn’t available in Shimla, 12.5 hectares at Luhri, about 150 km from the project site, has been earmarked,” he said..

DFO Ani Chaman Lal said the proposed CA site has been uploaded on Parivesh. “The climate at Luhri suits deodar. About 69 percent of the 4,125 saplings will be deodar, and the rest kail, oak and native fruit-bearing species. We expect MoEFCC to clear the CA site within 90 days,” he said.

The ropeway will connect Tara Devi, Judicial Complex, Chakkar, Tutikandi Parking, New ISBT Tutikandi, Railway Station, Old ISBT, Lift, Secretariat, Nav Bahar, Sanjauli, IGMC, Ice Skating Rink and 103 Tunnel near Hotel Chetan, creating a continuous aerial corridor across the city.

RTDC Director Ajay Sharma said the corporation has already given its assent for compensatory afforestation in the Ani division. “All costs, from tree felling to plantation and maintenance, will be borne by RTDC. The estimated expenditure is between Rs. 19 crore and Rs. 21 crore,” he said.

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Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Sanjay Sood added that Stage-II clearance from MoEFCC is awaited. “Once it is received, the land will be handed over to the user agency,” he said.

Saurabh Parashar

Saurabh Parashar is an Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, primarily responsible for the publication’s coverage of Himachal Pradesh. He is a seasoned journalist with over 17 years of experience in print media, specializing in crime, legal affairs, and investigative reporting. Professional Background Education: He holds a Master’s degree in Mass Communication from Guru Jambheshwar University of Science & Technology (Hisar) and a Law degree from Himachal Pradesh University (HPU), Shimla. This legal background significantly informs his reporting on complex judicial and administrative matters. Career Path: Before joining The Indian Express in 2017, he spent 12 years with The Times of India. Core Beats: His primary focus is the socio-political landscape of the hill state, with a specific emphasis on the environment, forest conservation, drug menace (specifically "Chitta"), affairs related to tribal and archaeology and the unique challenges of governance in high-altitude regions. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) His recent reporting highlights the critical intersection of policy, law, and social safety in Himachal Pradesh: 1. "Himachal’s battle against Chitta: Why the border areas are most vulnerable" (Late 2025): An investigative look at the transit routes from Punjab and the impact on local youth. 2. "Shimla ropeway clears key hurdle as 820 trees face the axe :According to the Forest Survey of India’s 2021 assessment, 47.21 percent of Shimla’s 5,131 sq km geographical area is under forest cover (Nov 17, 2025). 3. "Himachal to handover 2.7427 ha of non-forest land for Shimla Ropeway: Given the land’s non-forest nature, RTDC and the state will not require permission from MoEFCC" (Nov 18, 2025) 4. "How the centuries-old Jodidara tradition is fading in Himachal’s Trans-Giri region: Jodidara: a form of fraternal polyandry—has long been part of Hatti tribal culture in the Trans-Giri region of Himachal Pradesh and adjoining Uttarakhand. It is believed to have evolved to prevent division of ancestral land and maintain unity among brothers in the harsh, mountainous terrain" (Aug 18, 2025) Legal & Agricultural Affairs "Kisan Sabha hails SC’s setting aside Himachal HC order to remove orchards from forest land" (Dec 18, 2025): Covering a major Supreme Court victory for farmers, where a High Court order to remove fruit-bearing apple orchards was overturned. "Himachal Cabinet nod to new tourism policy; focus on home-stays in tribal areas" (Dec 11, 2025): Detailing the legislative push to decentralize tourism and bring economic benefits to Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur. 3. Governance & Environment "Forest rights and development: Why Himachal is seeking more leeway from Centre" (Dec 19, 2025): Reporting on the legal hurdles faced by the state in infrastructure projects due to the Forest Conservation Act. "Cloudbursts and resilience: How Himachal’s remote villages are building back better" (Nov 2025): Following up on the long-term rehabilitation efforts after monsoon-related disasters. Crime especially cyber crimes, crypto currency etc: crypto currency: "Agents in uniform, motivational speeches, lavish parties: How a Himachal crypto con went unnoticed:A serial conman, a ‘Nelson Mandela Nobel Peace Award winner', and retired policemen got together to pull off a Rs 1,740-crore fraud" (Nov 10, 2023) Signature Beats Saurabh is recognized for his tenacious reporting on the state's drug epidemic. His deep familiarity with the topography and tribal culture of Himachal allows him to report from remote locations like Spiti, Pangi, Shillai, which are often overlooked by national media. His legal expertise makes him a primary choice for covering the Himachal Pradesh High Court on issues ranging from local body elections to environmental PILs. X (Twitter): @saurabh_prashar . ... Read More

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