Work begins on Bijli Mahadev ropeway in Kullu

The work on the Bijli Mahadev ropeway in Kullu has started. The construction material to be used by the company, which is handling the project, has reached the site of the base station at Pirdi, 4 km from here. The residents of the Kharal and Kashawari valleys, under the banner of the Bijli Mahadev Ropeway Sangharsh Samiti, are opposing the project.

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari had virtually performed the bhoomi pujan of the Rs 284-crore Bijli Mahadev ropeway on March 5. Recently, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu had also taken stock of the base station site.

The 2.4-km ropeway is proposed from Pirdi to Bijli Mahadev, a scenic pilgrim spot housing a Shiva temple atop Kharal hills opposite Kullu town. The journey, including trekking, from Kullu to Bijli Mahadev takes almost two and a half hours but in the ropeway it will be completed in just seven minutes. The idea was under discussion for the past many decades and the state government last year handed over the project to National Highways Logistics Management Limited (NHLML).

Local residents say that even the oracle of the deity has said that no alterations should be done in his area and the deity will not cross under the ropeway. The sangharsh samiti had staged protests against the ropeway in Kullu. It had also conveyed its point of view to the state and Central government leaders, but all in vain.

The people opposing the ropeway had also taken up the issue with Mandi MP Kangana Ranaut last month.

The members of the sangharsh samiti said that if the government did not address the issue, they would approach court. Even environmentalists have raised concern over a heavy influx of visitors and the carrying capacity of the area.