Residents oppose ropeway to Bijli Mahadev in Kullu

Dipender Manta

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Tribune News Service

Mandi, June 18

Residents of the Kharahal valley in Kullu district are opposing the proposed ropeway to Bijli Mahadev from Talogi.

They demanded that the authorities should rather focus on ways to provide better road connectivity for tourism purpose.

Subhash, vice-president of the Chansari panchayat in the Kharhal valley, said residents were not in favour of the proposed ropeway, as it would have an adverse impact on the business of the local people.

Situated at a height of 2,460 metre above sea level, Bijli Mahadev is 22 km from Kullu.

A large number of tourists visit Bijli Mahadev during summer every year to seek the blessings of Lord Shiva.

The government is keen on setting up a ropeway in the region to attract more tourists to Bijli Mahadev round the year.

Subhash said if the ropeway came up, tourists would directly move between Kullu and Bijli Mahadev, which would hit the business of local dhaba owners, taxi operators and others on the 22-km stretch.

Kullu MLA Sunder Singh Thakur is also against the project in the region. He said the state government should instead provide better road connectivity, which would be of great help in promoting tourism in the area.

Sunder Singh Thakur said, “Bijli Mahadev falls under the Kharahal valley and the Kshavari valley. I have asked the state government to connect both valleys with Bijli Mahadev by road.”

The Himachal Pradesh Infrastructure Development Board (HPIDB) had awarded Rs100-crore Kullu-Bijli Mahadev ropeway to Usha Breco after making changes in the alignment and increasing the span from 1 to 2 km in December 2016.

Till then, only surveys were conducted for the feasibility of the ropeway and there was no progress in the construction work on ground.

To hit biz of locals

• With the setting up of the ropeway between Talogi and Bijli Mahadev, tourists will directly move between Kullu and Bijli Mahadev which will impact the business of local dhaba owners, taxi operators and others on the 22-km long stretch.
• Kullu MLA Sunder Singh Thakur is also against the project in the region and says the government should instead provide better road connectivity.