# Gulmarg Gondola shut for three days for maintenance 2026-09-15T22:41:25+00:00 | India | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet The Gulmarg Gondola, Asia's highest aerial tramway in north Kashmir's Baramulla district, was closed on Monday for inspection and maintenance work. Services will remain suspended until September 17, an official of the J&K Cable Car Corporation said, adding that the shutdown is part of routine checks to ensure visitor safety. The cable car suffered a snag on May 24, leaving over 300 tourists stranded mid-air for hours in 65 cabins. That incident triggered a seven-hour multi-agency rescue operation involving the corporation, Army, and police. Operations were then suspended for weeks while an internal committee and French firm POMA, the project developer, conducted audits. In January 2025, another snag stranded tourists for a few hours. In June 2017, a tree fell on the ropeway, killing seven people including four tourists from Delhi. ## Indian Opinion Analysis The Gulmarg Gondola has faced repeated technical failures despite two high-level audits after the May 2024 incident. The J&K Cable Car Corporation operates the ropeway under a concession with POMA, which has been the project's developer since its inception. A critical question is whether the current inspection will address the underlying mechanical issues flagged in those audits. The next test will come on September 18, when services resume and the system faces peak tourist loads again. ## Coverage - hindustantimes.com Tags: Baramulla, Gulmarg Gondola, J&K Cable Car Corporation Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/gulmarg-gondola-shut-for-three-days-for-maintenance/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/gulmarg-gondola-shut-for-three-days-for-maintenance/#story-in-brief