Bids invited for Naina Devi ropeway project

Tribune News Service

Shimla, March 16

The Himachal Government has invited bids to set up the jinxed Anandpur Sahib- Naina Devi ropeway project for which an agreement was signed with Punjab Government last year.

It was on September 5, 2018 that the Himachal Government had inked an agreement with the Punjab Government for setting up the project. “The project will be executed on public-private partnership (PPP) mode having a span of 3850 mts,” said RD Dhiman, Additional Chief Secretary (Health and Tourism).

The last date for the submission of proposals is May 4, 2020. The agreement for the ropeway project, linking the two shrines in Punjab and Himachal, was signed by the Dhumal regime in 2012. It was cancelled by the Virbhadra-led Congress regime in 2013. A fresh MoU was signed by the Jai Ram government with the Punjab Government last year in September.

“A special purpose vehicle (SPV) – Sri Naina Deviji and Sri Anandpur Sahibji — has been formed,” said Dhiman. The cost of the project which will link the two shrines, is also likely to shoot up to at least Rs 100 crore from the earlier cost of Rs 85 crore in 2012. The lower terminal point of the ropeway would be close to Rampur near Ananadpur Sahib.

“The ropeway is designed on Common European norms. There will be recreational facilities at lower, intermediate and upper terminal,” said Yunus, Director, Tourism. He added that the ropeway will give a boost to spiritual tourism.