SHIMLA: The Sukhu government is gearing up to elevate tourism to 'new heights'—literally adding new feather —with plans to construct Himachal’s first-ever Sky Walk Bridge in the picturesque Hassan Valley, near Shimla.
But as the excitement builds, so do concerns among wildlife enthusiasts and conservationists.
The project details- length of span, its exact location and its cost etc- are yet not out as it is in a nascent stage.
This transparent, glass-floored marvel will give tourists a thrilling experience of walking in mid-air, suspended above the valley, with panoramic views of the surrounding lush green Wild Flower Hall catchment area and the Shimla Water Catchment Wildlife Sanctuary.
However, there’s a looming threat—while the government hails the project as a major tourist attraction, environmentalists fear it could lead to further degradation of an already fragile ecosystem.
The sanctuary, known for being Shimla's last surviving wildlife corridor, is struggling under the weight of urban expansion and tourist activity, with trash and pollution piling up along the Dhalli-Charabara-Kufri route.
One see discarded plastic bottles, thermal cups and all littering the forest along the highway here.
The sanctuary is also a critical water source for the city, dating back to British times.
A Boon for Tourism, A Threat to Nature?
Touted as a one-of-a-kind adventure, the Sky Walk Bridge aims to lure thrill-seekers and high-end tourists, adding another feather to the government’s tourism cap after launching cruise rides in Bilaspur and helicopter services linking Kullu. But the real question is—at what cost?
Wildlife lovers argue that this "modern marvel" might endanger the sanctuary, with its glass floor and elevated structure posing a hazard not just to the landscape but potentially disturbing the sanctuary’s delicate flora and fauna.
Reports of skywalk accidents and structural collapses in other parts of the world raise legitimate safety concerns too.
“We don’t want this sanctuary, already being squeezed by urbanization, to be commercialized further,” remarked one conservationist.
As the project moves ahead, the debate between tourism development and environmental conservation heats up.
Will the Hassan Sky Walk become a symbol of Himachal's tourism boom, or will it collapse under the weight of ecological concerns?
