PATNA: There’s good news for tourists. After a gap of five months, Bihar’s lone aerial ropeway at Rajgir, said to be the oldest in the country, has become operational from Monday. The ropeway, which was non-operational since February, had caused embarassment for the Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation (BSTDC). The ropeway which is the highest revenue generating unit of the state-owned BSTDC. The BSTDC had incurred revenue loss to the tune of several lakh rupees during the period the ropeway was out of operation.
The aerial ropeway at Rajgir could not be operated since February 7 following a cable snap during the international Buddhist conclave.
Bihar tourism department had faced embarrassment with the sudden breakdown of the ropeway when hundreds of delegates, mostly foreigners, were in Nalanda attending an international conclave.
“We have incurred revenue loss to the tune of Rs 30-40 lakh during the period the ropeway was out of operation,” admits a tourism department official. The huge loss occurred in view of the month-long “Malmas mela” at Rajgir. Lakhs of pilgrims come Rajgir during the mela when the monthly revenue goes up to Rs 20 lakh, said the official. The chair-lift aerial ropeway was donated by famous Japanese monk Fuji Guruji. Loknayak Jayaprakash Narayan was the first to take a ride on the ropeway.
Now it is essential to have another hi-tech ropeway at Rajgir in view of its popular demand. The matter regarding a new hi-tech aerial ropeway is awaiting the forest department’s clearance. The ropeway has already outlived its utility. “It is also difficult to get spare parts for its old machines,” the official said. The existing ropeway will continue to be run till the new a monocable detachable gondola ropeway becomes operational.
After the commissioning of the new ropeway, estimated to cost Rs 8.5 crore, the old one will be given the heritage status on the pattern of the famous toy train of Darjeeling.
RITES, a government of India enterprise, has already submitted its detailed project report (DPR) of the proposed ropeway to the Bihar government. RITES provides comprehensive engineering, consultancy and project management services in the transport infrastructure sector. While the chairs in present ropeway can accomodate only one person, the new ropeway would have cabins which would accomodate several persons. RITES has already made a similar monocable detachable ropeway at Namchi in Sikkim. The construction of another ropeway with a capacity to carry 500 passengers per hour is currently funcationing at Trikut Hills in Deoghar (Jharkhand).