Shimla, July 26
In about three years, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab will be able to achieve what the pilgrims to Naina Devi and Anandpur Sahib have prayed for: A ropeway to link the two shrines.

The two states on Thursday signed a memorandum of understanding committing them to build a 3.75-km aerial ropeway.

The ropeway, to be constructed within three years, is a joint-venture. Of the 3,751 metre-long link, 274.582 metre lies in Punjab and the rest in Himachal. The project cost is Rs 85 crore.

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal and his Punjab counterpart Parkash Singh Badal termed the MoU as historic. Arun Sharma, director, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Himachal, and Karamjit Singh Sra, director, Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Punjab, signed the agreement on behalf of the two governments.

"The aerial ropeway will not just connect the two shrines by providing easy access and promoting tourism, but will also bring the two states closer in terms of regional understanding," Dhumal said.

Badal said though the project took long to take off despite the keenness of both states, it would be completed within three years. "Today will go down as a red letter day in the history of the two states," he said.

Of the 70 lakh pilgrims who visit the Naina Devi temple in Bilaspur district every year, 90 per cent are from Punjab. "The ropeway will help provide an easy, safe, economical and comfortable mode of transport to reach the hilltop temple. It will also greatly reduce the pollution and traffic congestion caused by the huge number of pilgrims," the Punjab CM said.

The ropeway will have three terminals -- one in Punjab and two in Himachal. It would carry at least 800 persons per hour in one direction.

The two states will set up a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to act as a concessioning authority. It will pay for land acquisition and the compensation accruing to land owners.

Will link Anandpur Sahib with Naina Devi temple in 3 yrs

The ropeway will have three terminals — one in Punjab and two in Himachal — and carry at least 800 persons per hour in one direction

Of the 70 lakh pilgrims visiting the Naina Devi temple in Bilaspur district a year, 90% are from Punjab