Shillong Ropeway gets the green light: All major hurdles cleared, construction to begin in January 2026

Guwahati: The Shillong Ropeway Project has cleared major obstacles and is progressing steadily, advancing Meghalaya’s tourism sector.

A review meeting between the New Development Bank (NDB) and the state Tourism Department was held on Tuesday to assess progress.

Ground preparation has begun at the Lower Terminal Point in Riat Laban.

Civil construction at the Lower Terminal, near Madan Laban Nepali Secondary School, is scheduled for January 2026, while work on the Upper Terminal near Shillong Peak will start soon.

The 896-metre ropeway will have six towers and 8-seater detachable gondola cabins.

Officials said it is expected to be operational by June 2028, with efforts to complete it by July 2027.

The Lower Terminal will serve as the ‘drive’ station and the Upper Terminal as the ‘return’ station, with space for boarding and deboarding and necessary passenger facilities.

The ropeway will use a Monocable Detachable Gondola system from French company POMA, offering a four-minute ride with a vertical rise of 299 metres at a speed of 5 m/s and a capacity of 600 passengers per hour.

Passengers will have views of Shillong city and surrounding hills from enclosed cabins with automatic doors.

Both terminals will include landscaped areas, cafeterias, kiosks, shops, tea and coffee outlets, waiting shelters, and public toilets.

The ropeway is expected to improve access to Shillong Peak, support tourism in the state capital, generate employment, and promote sustainable tourism.