Himachal Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh on Monday inaugurated the much awaited Jakhoo aerial ropeway project to connect it with an extension of the Ridge, which is expected to bring in more tourists and help local tourism.
The project has been completed with an outlay of approximately Rs. 40 crore. The foundation stone was laid way back in July 2007, but due to certain environmental reasons and forest clearances the project got delayed.
Constructed by Jagson International ltd. it would facilitate the visitors to reach the Hanuman Temple at Jakhoo in five minutes. Constructed on Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode, the Company would give Rs. 57 lakh as dividend through Tourism Department to the Government in its first year and thereafter 15 per cent of the collection money every year.
Chief Minister said that it was his dream project and just one of its kind in the State. This would further add to and give boost to tourism industry.
Vice Chairman HPTDC Harish Janartha, Mayor M.C. Shimla Sanjay Chauhan, Vice Chairman H.P Forest Development Corporation Kewal Singh Pathania, Commissioner Tourism Dinesh Malhotra and CMD Jagson International ltd. J.P. Gupta were also present on the occasion among others.
The government, acting on the directions of the district courts, asked the company in 2008 to stop the construction till preventive measures are taken to protect the trees and the houses that fell in the vicinity of the ropeway construction.
The company was also directed to remove the heavy earth-moving machines from the site as these were triggering landslides.
The State Government had approved the ropeway project despite the fact that the area fell in the no-construction green zone.