Sabarimala Ropeway Project Faces Further Delay; Not Expected Before Upcoming Mandala Season
Pathanamthitta: The much-anticipated ropeway project to transport goods from Pampa to the Sabarimala Sannidhanam is unlikely to be completed before the upcoming Mandala pilgrimage season. Although there were earlier assurances that it would be operational by this time, progress has been slower than expected due to pending approval from the State Wildlife Board.
Kerala’s State Wildlife Board—under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan—has postponed its meeting scheduled on June 9 to June 18 for the third time. reportedly due to the Chief Minister's busy schedule, particularly in connection with the Nilambur by-election campaign.
Without state clearance, the project cannot proceed to the National Wildlife Board and the Prime Minister’s committee for final approval.
If clearance is received then, the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) anticipates that the foundation stone for the project could be laid by the first day of Chingam (mid-August).
The ropeway has been in discussion for 18 years. To facilitate the project, 4.53 hectares of revenue land in Kulathupuzha village, Kollam district, were transferred to the Forest Department in exchange for the forest land needed at Sabarimala.
The construction will be carried out on a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) basis by 18 Steps Damodar Cable Car Company, which expects to complete the 2.9-kilometer stretch from Pampa to Sannidhanam With an Estimated Cost ₹250 crore. The ropeway ride is estimated to take 10 minutes.
The route will begin at Pampa hilltop and end behind the police barracks near Sannidhanam. While the project initially focused only on cargo transport, later revisions included provision for carrying passengers—especially elderly devotees and those unable to climb the hill. It will also be used to transport patients in emergencies. However, there are indications that the Forest Department has concerns about transporting people. A final decision on the matter will be taken by the Chief Minister-led State Wildlife Board.