Patnitop project is a classical example of the whims and eccentricities of administrative apparatus in our State. In these columns we have been keeping regular track of the project ever since its news touched the headlines in local newspapers more than a decade ago. We have been reacting from time to time on various complexities and complicacies dogging the entire project. What may be said out of that long experience is that it is a project essentially emanating from a fantasia that could or could not be executed in due course of time?
When the project was blue printed, it dawned upon the authorities that a number of agencies were involved if the project had to be cleared officially. Nobody at that time realized that clearance from concerned agencies like Forest Department, Environment agency, Central environmental clearance agency etc. would have to be taken on board. Thus began a long and tortuous process which was time consuming so much so that at one stage even the Supreme Court had a role to play. This process took nearly a decade and half of gestation. Does any project, which falls more in the domain of luxury tourism than in the category of infrastructural necessity, maintain its interest and tractability with the people for such a long time?
The project was initially allotted to a Hyderabad – based company for an estimated cost of 52 crore rupees. However, after prolonged delay in start of work due to varied reasons and subsequent increase in cost of the project the company lost interest in the project. Consequently, fresh tenders, technically called Expression of Interest (EoI) had to be floated.
As only one company has evinced interest in the project in response to fresh Expression of Interest, the Tourism Department has been left with no other option but to approach the State Cabinet for final call. Without going into the details of complexities and complicacies of the past, we suggest the Tourism Department to push for approval of the State Cabinet, which should also give clearance keeping in view inordinate delay of more than one decade in start of work on the project.
The State Cabinet must keep in mind that this project carries immense importance for the tourism promotion in Jammu region and ensure that work is started without wastage of any more time. This is also imperative in view of the general apprehension that unless projects like ropeway are constructed in and around Patnitop, the area would not be attracting tourists especially after the opening of Chenani-Nashri tunnel. Following completion of tunnel project, there would not be general flow of tourists visiting the Kashmir valley to Patnitop as this picturesque project would get bypassed.
May be some rules had to be bypassed keeping in view only one response to the fresh Expression of Interest but there should not be any hitch in doing so keeping in view the importance of ropeway project for tourism promotion. Any further tendering process would not only cause delay in start of work on the project but also create obstacles in tourism promotion.
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