NHAI nod to Palampur ropeway project

Palampur, December 26

Locals today hailed the Centre’s move to execute the Rs 605 crore Palampur-Thathri-Chunja Glacier Ropeway Project through the NHAI.

On Saturday, Union Surface and Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari in a tweet conveyed to the state that the NHAI had approved the much-awaited 13.5-km-long ropeway project, which had been hanging fire since 1990.

The ropeway will connect Palampur with Chunja Glacier in the Dhauladhar hills at the height of 12,000-ft above sea level. Tourists will reach the snow-covered peaks within 31 minutes. The state had prepared its project report in 2019 and was seeking investors. But because of the high project cost, the involvement of reserve forest and difficulties in getting the clearances, none turned up.

A day before Modi’s visit to the state, the PMO cleared all pending ropeway projects.

A state government official said the CMO had received an approval letter from the Ministry of Surface Transport in this regard on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Palampur MLA Ashish Butail said it was a major achievement for the town and the installation of a ropeway would definitely boost tourism. He said the project had already been delayed and now the government should immediately grant environment clearances and take up its construction at earliest. — OC