Two Himachal Pradesh ropeway projects get Centre’s nod

SHIMLA: Two important ropeway projects of Himachal Pradesh — Dharamshala-Himani Chamunda and Palchan-Rohtang — have got in principal approval of the Centre. While Rs 450 crore would be spent on 9km long Palchan-Rohtang project, Rs 280 crore would be spent on 4km long Dharamshala-Himani Chamunda project.
Confirming the development, a senior official of tourism and civil aviation department said in principal approval has been received for the two ropeway projects under Forest Conservation Act and now the cases would be processed further to ensure early start of construction work.
Pollution had become a major cause of concern in Rohtang area, with approximately 3,000 taxi operators earlier ferrying tourists to the mountain pass on daily basis. However, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has restricted the number of vehicles to 1200 and directed the construction of ropeway project.
A road journey of 40km beyond Kothi is tiresome due to traffic jam. The three-hour journey in normal scenario may be covered just in 30 minutes in ropeway. The ropeway would not only save the ecologically fragile area from vehicular pollution but also prove to be a major attraction for tourists as it would provide an aerial view of the entire valley from mountain top.
Tourists can also visit in winter when road is closed. In normal days, the road is also closed every Tuesday for scheduled maintenance. Due to less traffic of tourists up to Rohtang, vehicles to Lahaul-Spiti districts and Leh will also reach Rohtang in less time.
The proposed 5,529m long Himani Chamunda Passenger Ropeway will have continuous detachable monocable gondola system and covering an area of 1,07,768 sq m (including three terminal stations and ropeway corridor). The ropeway will be developed in two sections. The ropeway will have carrying capacity of 600 persons per hour.