Hyderabad: Hyderabad will soon have its first ropeway service connecting two famous heritage sites — Golconda Fort and Qutub Shahi Tombs. The ride at the
two kilometre ropeway will cost between Rs 100 and Rs 200, a media report said. Officials stated that the roadway will reduce the travel time from 15-20 minutes to 5-10 minutes. Each cable car will carry six passengers and offer scenic views of the heritage structures. Currently, both monuments attract nearly 5,000-8,000 tourists and over 10,000 on weekends, reported TOI. The ropeway will be similar to those in Shimla, Manali and Dharamshala and is being planned by Hyderabad Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (HUMTA) with help from the Ropeway and Rapid Transport System Development Corporation. “We cannot widen roads in this area because of narrow streets,” said HUMTA Managing Director B Jeeva Babu. “So we chose this solution to ease traffic and preserve the area,” quoted by the media report. He confirmed that two terminals we be built, one near the Golconda Fort entrance and the other at the Qutub Shahi Tombs Complex. The ropeway will use tall towers and begin with two cable cars, which may increase later depending on tourist demand. HUMTA has invited tenders to prepare a detailed project report and feasibility study. The deadline for submission is August 8. "The primary objective is to provide efficient transport access for international and domestic visitors. As soon as the agency submits their feasibility report, we will commence the ropeway works," the MD told TOI. Officials plan to begin construction as soon as the agency submits the feasibility report. The project will follow a public-private partnership (PPP) model, meaning shared responsibilities between a government agency and a private-sector company that can be used to finance, build, and operate projects. Earlier, in 2024, the central government had also announced a ropeway at Bhuvanagiri Fort under the Swadesh Darshan 2.0 scheme, with a budget of over Rs 50 crore.
