Jammu Ropeway Project will add to aesthetics of city, boost tourism: Priya Sethi

'Preparedness for trial run reviewed'

JAMMU, April 02: Minister of State for Education, Culture and Tourism, Priya Sethi today reviewed preparedness for trial run of Jammu Ropeway Project scheduled for this month.

The Minister accompanied by Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Hemant Kumar Sharma, Managing Director, J&K Cable Car Corporation Shamim Ahmad Wani,

ACR Jammu,Nisar Ahmad Shad, GM, JKSCCC, Riyaz Malik, Deputy Project Manager, Rakesh Bhat besides senior functionaries of the concerned departments and executing agencies visited Peerkho - the first take off point, Mahamaya temple - second landing bay area and Bagh-e-Bahu - the third and final destination where huge chunk of land has been acquired for developing parking, restaurant, viewing decks, landscaping, ticketing and landscaping for the conveniences of tourists.

Priya Sethi issued on spot directions to the officials of J&K Cable Car Corporation to expedite work and ensure that first trial between Mahamaya Temple and Bagh-e-Bahu is conducted in time. The project, she said, is of utmost importance and going to be biggest tourist attraction besides adding to aesthetics of Jammu City. She said that successful trial run of eight coaches will encourage the engineers which in turn will boost their morale to complete first ropeway as well.

Priya Sethi said that this 1.7 Kilometer Jammu Ropeway Project Rs 70 Crore, is going to have dedicated power connections, state of the art decks, well lit and maintained restaurants and heavy-duty DG sets for power backups. In the initial stages, eight cable cars will be put on tiral this month and then 12 more cars will be made operational on first stretch connecting both ends of river Tawi in the middle of this year.

Giving details of the physical achievements of project, the Managing Director J&K Cable Car Corporation, Shamim Ahmad Wani and engineers informed that work on casting of truss beam of Section-I Mahamaya station and 7 number of Tower structures have been completed. They said that work on approach roads and construction of retaining Wall at Bahu besides restaurants at all places are in the completion stages.

Priya Sethi said, keeping in view ecotourism, this cable car project will provide people a high-quality tourism experience that ensures that transportation, sightseeing, shopping, and entertainment are associated with zero-pollution. To give people accessibility to these decks, battery operated cars have been planned so that environment and forest area of Jammu is protected. Compared with road vehicles, cable cars are environmentally friendly, convenient, and economical and will connect Mubarak Mandi, Old city, Mahamaya Temple and Bagh-e-Bahu.

She said that other than this the coalition government led by Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has developed Sidhra Golf Club, parks on river banks of Tawi, Suchetgarh, tulip Garden at Sanasar, Mubarak Mandi Heritage Complex, Mahara Hari Singh park.

The Minister said that the prestigious ropeway project is going to be an alternative transportation, connect recreational hotspots, provide new perspective for viewing scenery and enable tourists to appreciate unique natural views and scenery.