Project to boost tourism in Jammu
*Work on 2nd phase in final stages
Govind Sharma
JAMMU, Oct 3: Twenty-five years after it was first planned, first section of the long-awaited ropeway service from Bahu Fort Temple to Mahamaya Temple was finally opened for public today with the people hoping that the project will give a much-needed boost to the tourism sector of Jammu region.
The Jammu Cable Care Project comprised of two sections—Bahu Fort Temple to Mahamaya Temple and Mahamaya Temple to Jamvant Gufa (Peer Kho Temple). The work on the execution of the Rs 75-crore project started in 2016 and the first phase was completed last year. It was formally inaugurated on July 27 this year by the then Lt Governor Girish Chandra Murmu but due to the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, the commercial operation got delayed
The project that was first planned in 1995, had to face delays in execution, before finally seeing the light of day after 25 years. Back in 1995, the project was to be operated from Bahu Fort to Mubarak Mandi Complex. It was modified and the route relocated when both places were declared protected monuments.
On first day of the opening of the Ropeway service, a lot of excitement was seen in locals as several people from various parts of Jammu reached Bahu Fort and Mahamaya stations of the project to take 1st ride. They expressed hope that the Ropeway service will provide a boost to pilgrimage tourism in Jammu as it connects three temples – Jamvant Gufa (Peer Kho Temple), Mahamaya Temple and Bahu Fort Temple.
Speaking to Excelsior, Mohd Riaz, a young man of Shahbad Colony (Jammu) who had come along with some of his friends to take ride of cable car, said, “We are thankful for the Government for this beautiful gift to people of Jammu as this will generate employment for local shopkeepers, besides boosting tourism activities in Jammu.” He said earlier tourists prefer to go to Katra or Kashmir as there was no tourism spot except historical Bagh-e-Bahu Park but with operationalization of this project, tourists will be attracted to Jammu as well.
Anil Sharma, a small businessman who had come to take ride of cable car project expressed that the project will be beneficial for both locals as well tourists. He said this entertainment facility will certainly woo tourists and now they will like to spend some time in Jammu but had the Tawi Artificial Lake Project become reality, it would have just icing on the cake.
“The rate of ride, which has been fixed Rs 100 per passenger is higher and the Government should lower the rates, particularly for local tourists. During inauguration, the then LG GC Murmu has directed the authorities to keep the service free for the general public for the first 15 days of operation and decide special concessional rates for students and senior citizens but his orders were not respected,” said Pankaj Gupta of Jain Bazaar after taking the ride.
Project manager Rakesh Bhat said that they have started the commercial operations of the project from Bahu to Mahamaya, while the work on the second phase from Mahamaya to Peer Kho is in its final stages. It is also likely to be thrown open to the public by the last week of November or early December, he added.
The cable car project would provide people a high-quality tourism experience with transportation facility, sightseeing and entertainment, Bhat said. “The ropeway from Bahu Fort to Mahamaya has eight cabins, and the one from Mahamaya to Peer Kho 14 cabins. The total number of towers in section one (Peer Kho to Mahamaya) and section two (Bahu Fort to Mahamaya) are nine and the critical components are all imported,” he added.
Bhat said the first day saw an encouraging response from the public. He said they are taking all COVID-19 preventive measures such as maintaining social distance, sanitisation of cabins before and after boarding and deboarding of passengers, wearing masks and checking of body temperature.
He said Government has proposed Rs 300 as rate for per ride per passenger but for first two weeks, we are charging Rs 100 per passenger per ride. He said online ticketing facility has been established but currently all ticketing work is being done manually and with the increasing rush , we will start online ticketing.
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