Dharamsala: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh on Sunday laid the foundation stone of a ropeway that will link this town with the uphill quaint town of McLeodganj, the abode of Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama.

The ropeway would be constructed with an outlay of Rs.1.5 crore within two years. It would be 1,638 meters long with a capacity to transport 1,000 people an hour.

An official statement said the ropeway would be executed by Dharamsala Ropeway Ltd, which was formed by TRIL Urban Transport Private Ltd and Power Himalayas.

Virbhadra Singh said the government was promoting alternative transportation like ropeway, particularly in major towns and tourist destinations so that vehicular pressure on roads is minimized.

McLeodganj has lured hundreds of thousands of tourists since Dalai Lama settled here in 1960 after fleeing his homeland. (IANS)(Photo: tibet.net)