PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/ Dehradun
Uttarakhand government has proposed to construct 50 ropeways in different parts of the State to facilitate transportation. Out of them the government has selected six ropeways which will be constructed on priority. Information in this regard was given to the chief secretary Anand Bardhan during the meeting of the steering committee for ropeway development at the State secretariat on Friday.
It was informed in the meeting that the work on the Sonprayag- Kedarnath and Govindghat- Hemkunt Sahib projects has been awarded. Similarly Kathgodam- Hanumangarhi Temple (Nainital) ropeway project is at the approval stage. It was also informed that the detailed project report (DPR) of the Kanakchauri- Kartik Swami ropeway is being prepared. The tender process for the Raithal Barsu – Barnala (Uttarkashi) and Joshimath-Auli-Gaurson ropeways is also underway.
The CS said initial focus should be on these six projects. He directed the preparation of timelines and project charts for each stage of the Sonprayag- Kedarnath and Govindghat- Hemkunt Sahib ropeway projects. He also called for expediting the forest and wildlife clearance process. The CS stated that transporting heavy machinery to the ropeway construction site would be challenging. He directed that necessary steps be taken immediately to increase the turning radius of roads and strengthen bridges. The CS also directed the inclusion of Kainchi Dham in the Kathgodam to Hanumangarhi Temple project. He stated that given the ever increasing number of devotees visiting Kainchi Dham, the possibilities of a ropeway project there should be explored.
Bardhan said the first board meeting of the Ropeway Development Committee must be held by the end of this month. He stated that the secretary, Tourism would be the member secretary of this committee. He directed national highways logistics management limited (NHLML) to appoint the chief executive officer of the special purpose vehicle (SPV) within a week so that the first board meeting could be held by the end of December.
The CS stated that all ropeway proposals in the State must be approved by this committee, so that there is no duplication between projects being prepared by different agencies. He directed that a roadmap be prepared now for the development of new tourist destinations and expansion of routes that will be needed locally in the next five to ten years, after all major ropeway projects are completed. Secretary Dilip Jawalkar, Pankaj Kumar Pandey, Dhiraj Singh Garbyal, additional secretary Abhishek Ruhela and Prashant Jain from NHLML attended the meeting.
CS reviews development works of major religious- tourist sites
DEHRADUN: Chief secretary Anand Bardhan also reviewed the progress of development works at tourist sites of the State on Friday. In the meeting he sought detailed information on the progress of development works at Jageshwar Dham, Mahasu Devta, Jadung, Mana and Niti Timmersain. He directed officials to continuously monitor the works to ensure it is completed on time and said that a timetable be prepared, setting out the completion date for each stage, starting from the start of work.
Bardhan said that the process of land transfer and acquisition should be expedited. He said that if there is a need to increase the number of workers to ensure the timely completion of the new footbridge at Kainchi Dham and the festival ground at Jadung, then such an increase should be done.
