PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
Following the recent directions of chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami to accelerate ropeway projects in the State, chief secretary Anand Bardhan reviewed the status of ongoing and proposed ropeway projects in Uttarakhand on Wednesday.
CS directed the Bridge, Ropeway, Tunnel and other Infrastructure Development Corporation of Uttarakhand Limited (BRIDCUL) to expedite the issuance of regulations and rules for the effective operation and regulation of ropeway projects in the State. He instructed officials to prioritise the resolution of pending processes, land-related issues and coordination challenges for all projects. “Ropeway connectivity in mountainous areas can significantly reshape the State’s tourism and transportation system. Therefore, we must expedite the completion of all projects, focusing on timeliness, quality, and coordination,” he emphasised. Bardhan also mandated the inclusion of parking facilities in ropeway projects to enhance transportation facilities for both tourists and local residents.
While reviewing the progress of the Kedarnath Dham and Hemkund Sahib ropeways, Bardhan directed the agencies concerned to accelerate the implementation of these projects. He also suggested designating a nodal officer to improve coordination between the district administration and the implementing agencies.
In the meeting the CS directed the Nainital Highways and Linkages Management Limited (NHLML) and Uttarakhand Metro Rail Corporation (UKMRC) to ensure coordinated integration for the Ranibagh-Jyolikot-Hanumangarhi-Kainchi Dham and Ranibagh-Bhimtal-Bhowali ropeway projects. He asked the UKMRC to expedite the final approval process for these projects, as well as the final Detailed Project Report (DPR) and Design and Financial Consultancy (DFC) processes.
In the meeting, the CS reviewed the progress of the Joshimath-Auli-Gorson, Raithal-Barsu and Purkul ropeway projects. Additionally, he reviewed the status of the Yamunotri-Janki Chatti, Hanumanchatti-Purnagiri, and Tapovan-Kunjpura ropeway projects, directing that all pending work related to these projects be completed expeditiously.
