Anandpur Sahib-Naina Devi ropeway project to be revived

HP, Punjab had signed MoU in 2012; was scrapped during Cong regime

• Himachal and Punjab have agreed to revive the Anandpur Sahib-Naina Devi ropeway project, for which an agreement was signed between the two states on July 26, 2012, but later scrapped when the Congress came to power.
• It was following Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur’s request to his Punjab counterpart Capt Amarinder Singh to revive the project that Additional Chief Secretary Ram Subhag Singh on Friday met Navjot Singh Sidhu, Punjab Tourism Minister.
• The CM said the project would prove to be a milestone in boosting the tourism in both states. “Besides, it will facilitate devotees visiting these two religious places and the project has already been cleared by the Cabinet.
• It was during the Dhumal-led BJP regime that an agreement was signed between Punjab and Himachal to set up the ropeway. However, on assuming power in December 2012, the Virbhadra-led regime terminated the agreement on the ground that it was a lopsided MoU in which HP’s interest had not been protected.
• A letter dated June 3, 2014, from the Director, Tourism, Himachal, had informed the Punjab Government about its intentions to scrap the agreement.
• “Punjab has agreed to implement the project with Himachal on the 50:50 profit sharing basis and the agreement for it will be signed between the two state this month,” said Ram Subhag Singh. He added that the ropeway with a span of almost 3.5 km would cost around Rs 200 crore and both states stood to benefit from it.

A ropeway is a transport system for materials or people, used especially in mines or mountainous areas, in which carriers are suspended from moving cables powered by a motor.

By: Pooja Sharda