JAMMU, JAN 31: Launched as a game-changer for Jammu’s tourism, the Jammu Ropeway now sits largely unused, its cabins empty despite lakhs of pilgrims and tourists streaming through the winter capital yearly. This exposes major flaws in planning, promotion, and execution.
The Bahu-Mahamaya section opened on July 27, 2020, under then Lt Governor Girish Chandra Murmu. The 1.18-km Peerkho-Mahamaya stretch followed on July 17, 2021. Officials promised it would boost tourism, create jobs, enhance city aesthetics, and attract visitors.
Yet years later, the project flops due to shoddy planning and negligible promotion by the Tourism Department, sources told EXCELSIOR. The Peerkho-Mahamaya section remains shut post last year’s devastating floods. The operational Bahu-Mahamaya leg averages under 100 riders daily—too few to cover costs, even after price cuts by the Jammu and Kashmir Cable Car Corporation (JKCCC).
Revenue falls short of maintenance expenses, turning the ropeway into a drain on public funds. JKCCC subsidizes it from Gulmarg Gondola profits. Restoration of Peerkho Station needs Rs 5 crore, but no funds have been released. Partial repairs continue without a timeline, and the access road lags behind.
Jammu, gateway to sites like Raghunath Temple, Ranbireshwar Temple, and Vaishno Devi, sees heavy footfall. Yet the ropeway misses out—no spots in itineraries, poor signage, scant digital push, or marketing of its Tawi River views and heritage panoramas.
Stakeholders slam the tourism strategy. Without bold promotion, Vaishno Devi tie-ins, and swift fixes, this “must-visit” asset risks permanent underuse. “Jammu deserved a tourism boost; instead, we got a white elephant,” they said.
