Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Sunday laid the foundation stone of 800-meter Mata Baglamuhki ropeway for Baglamukhi temple in Mandi district.
This ropeway would be the first such project in the State being constructed after the Central Government allowed construction of ropeways for rural connectivity through NABARD funding.
“This ropeway would be constructed within a year by spending an amount of Rs 50 crore. It would be constructed by M/a Doppelmayr India Private Limited and BEKAM Infra Limited by using aerial tram way technology and in accordance with CEN Standards on Engineering Procurement and Construction Mode,” said Thakur while addressing the people on the occasion at Bakhli in Mandi.
The Chief Minister said that one end of this ropeway walls in Drang Vidhan Sabha area and another in Seraj Vidhan Sabha area.
“The matter for seeking higher VGF for ropeway projects on PPP mode with cost sharing by the Government of India and State in the ratio of 90:10 has been taken up with the Union Government.,” he said.
Thakur informed that the State Government has also posed four ropeways to National Highway Logistic Management Limited for funding to the Centre. “Out of these DPRs (detailed project reports), one has been prepared for a ropeway from Bharmour to Bharmani Mata Temple in Chamba district to be constructed at a cost of Rs 120 crore,” he said.
He said that another ropeway posed for funding are Rs 605 crore Palampur-Thaatri-Chaugan in Kangra district; Rs 200 crore Bijli Mahadev in Kullu district; and ropeway from Shirgul Mahadev Temple to Churdhar in Sirmour district.
Eco-Park at Bakhli would also be completed by next month to facilitate the tourists and local people. “The work on the first phase of Rs 150 crore Shiv Dham is going on at a fast pace which, on completion, would be an added attraction for the tourists and local populace. Efforts would be made to link the Nature Pak at Bakhli with this ropeway in the second phase,” he added.
The Chief Minister said that the new tourist destination were being development under Nai Raahein Nai Manzilein scheme. “Largi, Pong Dam, and Kol Dams were being developed as water sports destination, Bir Billing as adventure sports destination and Chanshal as winter sports destination.