Telangana gets five Parvatmala ropeways, Rs 35 crore line for Khilla Ramalayam
Representative image: Engin_Akyurt / Pixabay
The Centre has cleared five Parvatmala ropeways in Telangana, including Yadadri and Nagarjunakonda; Nizamabad's Khilla Ramalayam gets a Rs 35 crore line, its MLA said on 18 October.
What Happened
The Centre has cleared five ropeway projects in Telangana under its Parvatmala Pariyojana, the national ropeway programme, to take visitors to hill temples and heritage sites by cable car. The approval was conveyed by Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari to Telangana Roads and Buildings Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy on Tuesday, 13 October 2026, according to reports. The five sites are the Sri Laxminarasimha Swamy temple at Yadadri, Nagarjunakonda, Ramagiri in Peddapalli district, Hanuman Hill in Nalgonda and the Khilla Ramalayam temple in Nizamabad district. On Sunday, 18 October, Nizamabad Urban MLA Dhanpal Suryanarayana said a ropeway estimated at Rs 35 crore had been sanctioned for Khilla Ramalayam and that a detailed project report would be prepared soon.
Key Facts
- Scheme: Parvatmala Pariyojana, the Centre's national ropeway development programme.
- Approval: conveyed by Nitin Gadkari to Komatireddy Venkat Reddy on 13 October 2026, reports said.
- Sites: Yadadri (Sri Laxminarasimha Swamy temple), Nagarjunakonda, Ramagiri (Peddapalli), Hanuman Hill (Nalgonda) and Khilla Ramalayam (Nizamabad district).
- Khilla Ramalayam: ropeway estimated at Rs 35 crore; a detailed project report is to be prepared, the local MLA said on 18 October.
- Hanuman Hill: one report describes a 1.2 km ropeway up the hill in Nalgonda town.
- The state had sought about Rs 1,230 crore from the Centre for five tourist and spiritual ropeways.
- No site in the former Adilabad district, including the Kuntala waterfall, made the list, a point raised by local reports.
Why It Matters
Many of India's most visited temples and heritage sites sit on hills, and reaching them can mean steep climbs, winding roads or long waits for buses. For elderly pilgrims, families with small children and people with disabilities, that can put a visit out of reach. A ropeway changes the experience: a short, scenic ride replaces a hard climb, and more visitors can reach the site in a day without adding traffic to narrow hill roads.
Telangana's five chosen sites mix pilgrimage and heritage. The list covers the Sri Laxminarasimha Swamy temple at Yadadri, Nagarjunakonda, the Ramagiri fort area in Peddapalli and the Khilla Ramalayam temple, which local leaders want to develop into a major tourist destination. Hanuman Hill gives Nalgonda town a new attraction close to its centre.
For local economies, the projects could bring new business: more visitors mean more custom for hotels, eateries, guides, taxi operators and craft sellers. That is the logic behind Parvatmala, which aims to build ropeways at hilly and congested sites around the country, often in partnership with private operators.
The list has also drawn criticism. Local reports in the Adilabad region pointed out that none of its well-known tourist spots, including the Kuntala waterfall, was included. That shows how such projects are watched closely by districts hoping for tourism-led growth.
Approval is only the first step. Each project needs a detailed project report, environmental and engineering clearances, and a construction contract before work starts, so completion is likely to take time.
| Site | Detail from reports |
|---|---|
| Yadadri | Sri Laxminarasimha Swamy temple |
| Nagarjunakonda | Listed among the five sites |
| Ramagiri | In Peddapalli district |
| Hanuman Hill | Nalgonda town; about 1.2 km ropeway reported |
| Khilla Ramalayam | Nizamabad district; estimated at Rs 35 crore |
Impact
Short-term: Detailed project reports will be prepared for the five ropeways, starting with Khilla Ramalayam, and the state will begin the process of finding operators.
Long-term: Once built, the ropeways should make the sites easier to visit, raise tourist numbers and create local jobs. Districts left out may press for their own projects in the next round.
Who is affected: Pilgrims and tourists, especially elderly and disabled visitors; local businesses near the five sites; Telangana's tourism department; and residents of districts such as Adilabad that were left out.
Key Takeaway
Telangana has won Central approval for five Parvatmala ropeways, at Yadadri, Nagarjunakonda, Ramagiri, Hanuman Hill and Nizamabad's Khilla Ramalayam, which is set to get a Rs 35 crore ropeway.
Questions and Answers
Which ropeways has the Centre approved in Telangana?
Five, under the Parvatmala Pariyojana: at the Yadadri temple, Nagarjunakonda, Ramagiri in Peddapalli, Hanuman Hill in Nalgonda and Khilla Ramalayam in Nizamabad district.
How much will the Khilla Ramalayam ropeway cost?
Nizamabad Urban MLA Dhanpal Suryanarayana said on 18 October 2026 that the ropeway is estimated at Rs 35 crore and that a detailed project report will be prepared soon.
What is Parvatmala Pariyojana?
It is the Centre's national ropeway development programme, which aims to build ropeways at hilly and hard-to-reach tourist and pilgrim sites.
When will the ropeways be ready?
No timeline has been announced. Each project still needs a detailed project report, clearances and a construction contract.
Disclaimer: Prepared by the Peepals newsroom from publicly available sources with AI assistance. Information is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication and may change. Images may be representative. Not professional advice. Report an error via our contact page.
Sourced and fact-checked by the Peepals Global Editorial Team
Reported, fact-checked and published by the Peepals Global Editorial Team.
