Darjeeling, July 09 (Siliguri Chronicle) – BJP MP Raju Bista has requested the central government to set up a ropeway between Darjeeling and Ghoom to help reduce road traffic on the busy route.
Bista raised the demand with Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari. Darjeeling and Ghoom are located about 8 km apart and often face traffic congestion, especially during peak tourist seasons.
Hill architects have long supported the idea of ropeways as a practical mode of public transport in the region’s difficult terrain.
“I have proposed the development of a ropeway between Ghoom and Darjeeling under the Parvatmala project,” said Bista. “This will provide a clean and efficient transportation alternative, reduce traffic pressure and enhance connectivity in a region facing increasing congestion.”
During the Union Budget for 2022-23, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the launch of the National Ropeways Development Programme — Parvatmala — to be implemented through the public-private partnership (PPP) model. The initiative was promoted as an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional roads in challenging hilly terrains.
In a related move, the ministry of road transport and highways appointed a consultant last month to prepare a detailed project report (DPR) for a new road connecting Darjeeling to Teesta Bazar via Lebong.
Darjeeling comes to a near standstill during peak tourist seasons, with commuters often taking up to 2.5 hours to travel the short 8km stretch between Ghoom and Darjeeling. The bottleneck occurs as all major routes to Darjeeling — from Gangtok, Kalimpong, Siliguri, Kurseong, Mirik, and nearby areas like Mungpoo and Takdah — converge on this single stretch.
The preparation of the detailed project report (DPR) is being viewed as a significant first step toward exploring alternative solutions to the town’s growing traffic problems.
In addition to the ropeway proposal, Bista has also called for an alternative highway connecting Siliguri to Darjeeling.
“The current NH110 (formerly NH55), built during the British era, is extremely congested, causing major delays and stress to residents and tourists alike,” said Bista.
The MP has urged the central ministry to explore a new alignment for an alternative route connecting Siliguri to Darjeeling via Orali, Balason, Dhotrey, Pussumbing, and Ghoom.
