Skip stairs, take trolley to shrine

Nashik: The much-awaited funicular trolley project at Saptashrungi Gadh temple is in its final phase with the trains ready for the first trial run to be conducted by next week.
Once these trolleys pass all the test rides and start functioning on a regular basis, the devotees could skip climbing the 550 stairs to reach the ancient shrine. Sagar Nichit, the construction supervisor of Saptashrungi Gadh, said the project would become functional latest by May 31, the designated deadline.
"The funicular trolleys are expected to be in service for the devotees by May 31. The trial runs will start by April third week," said Nichit. Once completed, the devotees can reach the temple located at 1402.08m above the sea level and a distance of about 100m from the foothills in sharp 120 seconds. The trolley will run on a 1.20m wide railway track. It will have an 80m passing loop so that two trolleys travelling in the opposite direction can pass each other.
Nichit said the funicular trolley with a carrying capacity of 60 people has several advantages over other modes of transport. "Experts have claimed that the trolley requires less space, is eco-friendly and will not need any cutting of the sensitive rocks. Operating and maintenance costs are also less," he said.
The rocks at Saptashrungi Gadh have a tendency of falling. The public works department has recently installed an anti-rockfall system to protect devotees.
Officials claimed that the funicular trolley system has foolproof safety measures. Passengers may get down and walk along the track to climb the hill in case of any emergency. The system is used worldwide, particularly in countries such as Switzerland, France, Sweden and Italy. In India, it was first used at Palani in Tamil Nadu in 1971.
The Saptashrungi Gadh is located in the East-West range of the Sahyadri mountains. It is one of the most visited religious places for pilgrims coming from neighbouring states such as Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat.
As the temple is situated on top of the mountain, the public works department had opted for the funicular trolley to take the devotees from the bottom of the mountain to the site. After examining the location, it was clear that the temple and the area chosen for the funicular, in front of the cliff, could be affected by serious rockfall from the adjacent hill slopes.
The height of the cliff to be protected is about 200m from the road level. Considering the issue, rockfall protection solutions were proposed to be carried out above and around the station area.
The temple trust is, in the meantime, busy preparing for the annual Chaitra Navaratri festivity at the Saptashrungi shrine from April 14 to 22. Thousands of devotees from across the country are expected to visit the temple for the event.
"Chaitra Navaratri is more popular in Gujarat and the northern part of the country. We are expecting devotees from North India during the weeklong celebration. The temple trust has made special arrangements for the devotees," Nichit said.
The trust has earmarked 11 places around the temple where it has placed drinking water tanks with 2,000 litre capacity for the devotees. The administration has put in place a network of CCTV cameras around the temple for the visitors' sceurity. The state transport has made arrangements of 150 additional buses from Nanduri to Gadh Mandir. The construction of a bus station on the Saptashrungi Gadh is also in final phase.