The Union Territory Administration in Jammu and Kashmir has set in to motion the task of preparing detailed project reports (DPRs) for development of three ropeways, including 11.60 kms Baltal to 3,880 metre high holy cave shrine of Amarnath, to facilitate the easy movement of pilgrims during the annual pilgrimage.
In addition, bids for preparation of DPRs are also being invited by the National Highways Logistics Management Ltd (NHLML) for three more ropeway projects — two in Budgam and one in Ramban district, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said in a written reply in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly.
Abdullah, who is also the minister in charge of tourism, provided the information in response to an unstarred question by National Conference legislator Sajjad Shaheen. Abdullah said the NHLML invited bids through NIT on January 25, 2025, for preparing DPRs for the development of Baltal-Amarnath cave, the 8.80 km Bhaderwah to Seojhdar ropeway in Doda, and the 1.60 km Sonamarg-Thajiwas glacier ropeway.
While lakhs of pilgrims visit Amarnath cave shrine during the annual pilgrimage, Seojhdar and Sonamarg are tourist resorts attracting a good number of holiday makers round-the-year. “…a list of 52 ropeway projects to be taken up for development in J&K was shared by the government and out of these projects as reported by NHLML, bids have been invited for development of a 1.05 km ropeway project for Shankaracharya temple (in Srinagar).
The project is currently under bidding and clearances are under process,” he said.
The chief minister said a Memorandum of Understanding has been signed on April 4, 2022 between the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the Jammu and Kashmir government for execution of ropeway projects under Parvatmala scheme.
The chief minister said bids for preparation of DPRs for Parihas to Diskhal ropeway project in Doodhpathri resort and Sutharan to Tosamaidan meadow in Budgam and Nashri Tunnel to Sanasar lake in Ramban are also being invited by the NHLML. In case of Karchiall to Wasamarg ropeway project in Ramban, pre-feasibility study is underway through the NHLML, he said.
