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March 28, 2025 — Four years after the Nandi Hills cable car project was first announced, tangible progress has finally emerged at the foothills near Bengaluru. While the Lower Terminal Point (LTP) is under active construction, the project remains hamstrung by a critical missing piece: forest clearance from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) for the Upper Terminal Point (UTP) and the 12 towers that will support the ropeway.
A senior official from the Karnataka Tourism Department confirmed that the private concessionaire, Dyanamicx Ropeway Private Limited (DRPL), has completed nearly 20% of the LTP structure. The site is located in Madaku Hosahalli village, adjacent to the Kanive Basaveshwara Swamy temple.
“Seven acres of land at the foothills were handed over to DRPL earlier this year. They are now working on the ground-level base station, including the floor slab up to level two. Utility buildings and the food court foundation are also in progress,” the official said.
The project, originally estimated at ₹93.40 crore, has ballooned to an actual cost of ₹240.17 crore. The escalation is attributed to the adoption of European CEN safety standards, ultra-modern amenities, land acquisition for the corridor, and high-quality pillar specifications. The government has granted the concessionaire a 30-year operating period, with an annual fee starting at ₹1.60 crore and a 5% annual increase.
All construction at the LTP has undergone rigorous checks. “The soil study, structural design, and peer review were conducted by the research and development section of IIT Dharwad over three months. An independent engineer and a safety engineer from the Tourism Department also gave the go-ahead,” the official added.
The LTP is designed to accommodate up to 200 cars, 150 two-wheelers, and buses, along with a designated waiting area for tourists. However, the ropeway components—ordered from the Italian firm Leitner-Italy—have yet to be delivered. “The first shipment is on hold because forest clearance for the corridor is still pending,” the official explained.
For the Upper Terminal Point and the 12 towers required for cable car movement, the Tourism Department has uploaded all necessary documents on the Parivesh portal. Yet, without MoEFCC approval, other mandatory no-objection certificates from the gram panchayat, Fire Department, Pollution Control Board, and the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) remain stuck.
Exclusive insight: In a recent development not widely reported, the state government has set up a dedicated coordination cell in New Delhi to fast-track the forest clearance process. Karnataka Tourism Minister K. J. George reiterated that the project is a priority and that all stakeholders are being engaged. However, local environmental groups have raised concerns about potential damage to the ecologically sensitive Nandi Hills region, which is part of the Eastern Ghats. A petition filed by the Nandi Hills Conservation Forum in early March argues that the ropeway could disrupt the habitat of endangered bird species and alter groundwater recharge patterns. The MoEFCC has reportedly sought additional impact assessment reports from the state forest department.
As of now, the ropeway’s overall timeline remains uncertain. While the LTP construction proceeds, the project’s completion hinges on the speed of inter-ministerial clearances. Once fully operational, the 2.94 km cable car will offer panoramic views and reduce traffic congestion on the narrow hill road.
In the meantime, tourists visiting Nandi Hills continue to rely on conventional vehicles. The state tourism department expects that the ropeway will eventually become a major draw, especially for weekend travelers from Bengaluru. But without forest clearance, the project remains at a standstill above the foothills.
