Panel set up to make ropeway projects viable

Pratibha Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Shimla, September 9

With private investors not evincing interest in the four aerial ropeways advertised on several occasions, the Himachal Government has decided to set up a committee headed by Tourism Commissioner to suggest ways and means to make them more attractive through restructuring or granting more relaxations.

With there being no takers for the four aerial ropeway projects, the fate of the other ropeways in the pipeline also seems to be gloomy. The committee with some other expert members will be holding its first meeting on September 12 to examine these pending projects and see how they can be made more lucrative for the private investors as the projects are to be executed under private-public partnership (PPP) mode.

The four projects for which there are no takers are Toba-Naina Devi, Shah Talai- Deodsidh, Sarahan-Bashal Kanda and Neugal-Palampur. “We have now decided to assign the task of suggesting relaxations to make these ropeway projects viable to technical and financial experts, so that on their recommendation the necessary restructuring can be done,” revealed an official.

The committee headed by Commissioner (Tourism) will have Special Secretary (Finance), Director (Institutional Finance), head of HP Infrastructure Development Board and an Executive Engineer of the Public Works department in his capacity as ropeway expert as its members. The recommendations made the committee will be submitted to the government.

The main reason being cited for the Toba- Naina Devi and Shah Talai – Deodsidh projects being unviable is the availability of good road connectivity. “The investor is not willing to risk his money as majority of the pilgrims making a beeline to these shrines are from the lower income group, for whom ropeway travel would be unaffordable,” said an official.

As such it is being felt that if the state government does not grant some more concessions to make them commercially viable, no investor will risk his money when the returns do not appear to be very attractive.

Other potential areas being identified

At a stage when there are no takers for the already advertised ropeway projects, the process for identifying other potential areas is continuing and that too on political considerations. The sites are not being identified on the basis of potential but considering pressure from political quarters.

One such example is that of a proposed ropeway between Bharmour and Bharmani in Chamba for which a consultant has been appointed. This comes close on the heels of the consultant appointed for assessing the viability for the Paonta Sahib-Dak Pathar aerial ropeway, terming it as most unviable.