Dehradun–Mussoorie ropeway 2026: September target passes, CM's 9 Nov push

The Purkul–Mussoorie ropeway was due by September 2026. We found no announced opening date. In August the CM told agencies to show visible work on all ropeways by 9 November.

What happened

The September 2026 target. The Dehradun–Mussoorie ropeway runs from Purkul village on the Dehradun side to the Gandhi Chowk and Library Chowk end of Mussoorie. For most of 2025, officials gave September 2026 as the completion date. The Daily Jagran repeated that deadline in September 2025, and Haldwani Live did so in June 2025. Swarajya, citing the state tourism department in August 2025, gave a looser target of end-2026. As of 13 October 2026, we have not found any report of the ropeway opening, or of a new official opening date.

The CM's review in August. On 24 August 2026, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami reviewed ropeway projects across the state at his residence in Dehradun. Amar Ujala, Panchjanya and Garhwal Post all reported that he was unhappy with the slow pace of work. He said work on ropeway projects must be visible on the ground by 9 November, which is State Foundation Day. Agencies were told to send progress reports to the Chief Secretary within 15 days.

Mussoorie was on the list. Garhwal Post reported that the Dehradun–Mussoorie ropeway was among the projects reviewed, and described it as an alternative to the road during the peak tourist season. Doon Horizon listed it as a 5.5 km route, one of eight it named. The others reviewed included Kedarnath (12.90 km) and Hemkund Sahib (12.40 km). Panchjanya reported that district magistrates were told to monitor the projects and to clear hold-ups over land acquisition, forest clearance and departmental approvals. Amar Ujala's report did not give any progress figure for the Mussoorie line.

What the project is. Swarajya reported in August 2025 that it is a ₹300 crore public-private partnership with Mussoorie Skycar Company. Haldwani Live gave the cost as ₹285 crore. Reports describe a mono-cable gondola carrying about 1,300 people an hour in each direction. The trip is meant to take 15 to 20 minutes, against about 90 minutes by road. Snow Sports News, in July 2026, named POMA of France as the cable-car maker.

Progress figures are old and do not match. In February 2025, Rajya Sameeksha quoted Sachin Kurve, secretary of the Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board, as saying the project was almost 50% complete, with 15 of 26 towers ready. Haldwani Live put it at 16 of 26 towers in June 2025, and said a 10-storey parking block at Purkul was half built. Swarajya reported in August 2025 that work had started on 20 of 26 towers and three parking levels were ready. The July 2026 Snow Sports News piece said tower work was still under way and gave no opening date.

Rain damage in 2025. The Daily Jagran reported that heavy rain on 15 September 2025 buried the lower terminal site at Purkul under debris, washed away scaffolding and damaged the access road. Deepak Khanduri, director (infrastructure) at Uttarakhand Tourism, told the paper that the contractor had started clearing the debris.

Sources differ on length. The route is given as 5.2 km in some reports and 5.5 km in others.

What it means for buyers and hosts in Dehradun

This section is our view.

Do not pay extra for a ropeway that is not running. Sellers and brokers near Purkul, Rajpur Road and the Mussoorie road may say a home is "near the ropeway". That may become true one day. For now there is no public opening date. Price the property on what is there today: the road, water, power and travel time to the city.

Plan for the road for now. Anyone buying a home in the hills to rent out, or for weekend use in Mussoorie, should assume road travel for at least the next season. Mussoorie's traffic and the state's tourist registration rules matter more for now. Our post on Mussoorie's 2026 tourist registration and bypass plans covers those.

Watch 9 November. If the government gives a firm opening date around State Foundation Day, the area around the Purkul terminal may see more interest from homestay and café owners. Check land use and building rules with MDDA before you buy near it. Much of the foothill belt has limits on what can be built. Our guide to where Dehradun's plots are explains the main areas.

Hosts should not advertise it yet. If you run a homestay, do not tell guests they can take a ropeway to Mussoorie until it is open to the public. You can list your place on stays in Dehradun on ILA Infra.

Questions people ask

When will the Dehradun–Mussoorie ropeway open?

No opening date has been announced that we could find. Officials had aimed for September 2026, and in August 2026 the CM asked for visible progress on all ropeways by 9 November.