Infrastructure
Parvatmala Pariyojana: Global Majors Seek Perfect Feasibility Studies On Ropeway Projects
Parvatmala Pariyojana ropeway development programme.(Representative Image).
The Parvatmala Pariyojana programme, entailing an investment of Rs 1.25 lakh crore over the next five years, for a comprehensive ropeway network and to attract international players, was announced by the centre recently.
Global industry majors urged the centre to focus on carrying out perfect feasibility studies, better estimate of costs and setting realistic deadlines for the ropeway projects.
The global players pointed out that these are key for timely completion of projects, while highlighting how deficient feasibility reports delay the bidding out of projects.
Two such examples are Gaurikund to Kedarnath and Govid Ghat-Ghangaria-Hemkund Sahib in Uttarakhand, which have not been bid out even more than a year after the foundation stones for these projects were laid.
According to sources, the NHLML, a body under the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) implementing the ropeway projects, has extended the bid due date till this month end.
On Tuesday (23 January), the NHAI and NHLML made a presentation on the target to extend the length of ropeway length from the current 65 km to 360 km, before national and international players at a symposium.
The agencies remarked that so far three projects have been bid out, including the country's first urban ropeway in Varanasi. Seven more are under different stages of bidding and in another 20 projects, the detailed feasibility study is in progress.
In his address, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said that the foremost priority of the sector in India should be to make ropeways economically viable by bringing down the overall project cost to make this affordable.
Gadkari said focus should be on developing indigenous and cost-efficient solutions without compromising safety.
Support Swarajya's 50 Ground Reports Project & Sponsor A Story
Every general election Swarajya does a 50 ground reports project.
Aimed only at serious readers and those who appreciate the nuances of political undercurrents, the project provides a sense of India's electoral landscape. As you know, these reports are produced after considerable investment of travel, time and effort on the ground.
This time too we've kicked off the project in style and have covered over 30 constituencies already. If you're someone who appreciates such work and have enjoyed our coverage please consider sponsoring a ground report for just Rs 2999 to Rs 19,999 - it goes a long way in helping us produce more quality reportage.
You can also back this project by becoming a subscriber for as little as Rs 999 - so do click on this links and choose a plan that suits you and back us.
Click below to contribute.
Latest
