Formalities over, Rohtang ropeway work from November

Abhinav Vashisht

Kullu, October 6

All formalities for setting up nine-km ropeway from Kothi near Manali to Rohtang Pass have been completed and the construction work will begin in November.

The model of the proposed Rohtang ropeway was showcased before Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur during their recent visit to the Atal Rohtang Tunnel.

Amitabh Sharma, Managing Director, Ski Himalayas, company executing the project, said the project would be completed in four years in three phases. In the first phase Kothi to Gulaba three- km stretch will be completed in two years. Another three-km long stretches each from Gulaba to Marhi and Marhi to Rohtang will be accomplished in the next two years.

After the ropeway is set up the visitors will be able to enjoy the ride from Kothi to Rohtang which will take 21 minutes.

Sharma said the Prime Minister appreciated the model of the ropeway. The budget of the project is Rs 540 crore.

Tourists will be able to visit the 13,058 feet high Rohtang Pass, popular tourist destination, throughout the year after completion of the ropeway project. The high mountain pass remains covered with snow for nearly seven months from November to June. Tourists enjoy various adventure activities in snow, providing livelihood to local residents. The tourists throng Gulaba, Marhi and Rohtang Pass to capture a glimpse of snow.

It takes around two hours by road to cover about 50-km distance from Manali to Rohtang, he said. Visitors face hassles during the journey due to frequent traffic jams, particularly in summer months. While the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has capped the number of vehicles to 1,200 per day to visit the Rohtang Pass for tourism purposes, a large number of vehicles going to Lahaul also cross through this gateway to the Lahaul valley.

21-minute panoramic ride

• The project will be completed in four years in three phases. In the first phase Kothi to Gulaba three- km stretch will be completed in two years. Another three-km long stretches each from Gulaba to Marhi and Marhi to Rohtang will be accomplished in the next two years.
• During the nine-km long ropeway journey the visitors will be able to enjoy the ride from Kothi to Rohtang which will take 21 minutes.