The long-awaited Nandi Hills Ropeway Project in Chikkaballapur, Karnataka, has entered its next phase as the district administration issued a land acquisition notification on 12 May. Approximately four acres in Madaku Hosahalli village—adjacent to the Kanive Basaveshwara Swamy temple—have been earmarked for the ropeway’s lower terminal.
Site plans include parking for 200 cars, 100 two-wheelers, multiple buses, and a spacious waiting area capable of accommodating over 500 passengers. Of the notified land, 281 sq. metres (roughly three guntas) will host terminal facilities, while an additional three acres and 32 guntas are designated for the 2.9-km ropeway corridor ascending the hill. Landowners are prohibited from registering any transactions on the affected parcels, and a 60-day window has been opened for registering objections.
Developed on a public-private partnership (PPP) basis under a design-build-finance-operate-transfer (DBFOT) model, the ₹93.4-crore project is led by a special purpose vehicle formed by Damodar Ropeways & Infra, Ashoka BuildCon, and Dynamicx Ropeway. Having secured forest department clearance, the ropeway—and its lower terminal—will be operated by the private consortium for the next 30 years, promising to boost tourism and ease pilgrim access to Nandi Hills.
