Ropeway cleared, soon reach Kasauli from Jabli in 20 mins

Ambika Sharma

Tribune News Service

Solan, January 11

With an about 4-km ropeway connecting Jabli with Kasauli in Solan district of Himachal getting an all-clear from the authorities concerned, tourists as well as locals can hope of traversing between the two points in a mere 20 minutes.

The eco-friendly transportation mode will have the twin advantage of easing traffic snarls as well as saving fuel to promote cleaner environment. It will also provide speedier access to Kasauli, the world-famous town frequented by 5,000 to 7,500 tourists on a daily basis during peak season. The project is to be completed at a cost of Rs 206 crore.

The Ropeways and Rapid Transport System Development Corporation (RTDC), which is executing the project, has prepared a preliminary report and tenders are likely to be floated shortly. Corporation managing director Ajay Sharma said the project had a tentative span of 3.88 km. “Its lower terminal point will be situated at Mohal Bhat ka Gaon at Jabli on the Parwanoo-Dharampur section of National Highway-5. The upper terminal point has been identified near the Public Works Department Circuit House in Kasauli,” he said.

The ropeway will be developed on CEN standards, which are the European norms for standardisation and recommended by the Niti Aayog. The Mono Cable Gondola technology having an indicative design capacity to carry 1,100 persons per hour will be put into use.

To be executed under the design-build-finance-operate and transfer mode by the RTDC, the corporation will ensure ample parking for ropeway riders. “Besides decongesting Kasauli roads, this eco-friendly mode of transportation will boost employment opportunities and give a push to tourism,” said Sharma. He said though an indicative alignment had been worked out in the preliminary report, the number of trees to be axed would be known only after the promoter was finalised. “Changes, if any, suggested by the promoter to ensure the project’s viability will be carried out,” he said.

With no financial implication on the government, the project will be completed under the public–private partnership (PPP) mode. “The concession period will be 40 years. The government land will be provided free of cost to the promoter firm, which will pay annual concession fee to the government,” the MD said.

Eco-friendly option

• 5,000 to 7,500 tourists visit Kasauli daily in peak season
• 3.88-km ropeway project is to be completed at a cost of Rs206 cr
• 1,100 persons per hour will be the capacity of the project