Ready in May, ropeway opening was delayed over safety trials

Tribune News Service

Jammu, December 25

The prestigious Bhawan-Bhairon Ghati ropeway, connecting the cave shrine of Goddess Vaishno Devi with the Bhairon temple, was to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his daylong visit to J&K on May 19 but it was delayed for conducting successful trials to ensure safety of pilgrims.

The ropeway was e-inaugurated by Governor Satya Pal Malik at a function in Jammu on Monday.

According to official sources, the ropeway project, started during the tenure of former Governor NN Vohra who was the chairman of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, was completed early this year and it was decided it would be inaugurated by the Prime Minister along with Tarakote Marg and Siar Dabri-Bhawan material ropeway projects on May 19.

“The inauguration of the passenger ropeway between Bhawan and Bhairon Ghati was put on hold. The board, headed by Vohra, wanted to be absolutely sure about the safety of pilgrims. It was decided to delay the inauguration and go for more trials so that all possible measures could be taken for the safety and security of the pilgrims,” sources said.

The sources added, “Accordingly, the executing agencies Garaventa AG, Switzerland, and Damodar Ropeways Construction, Kolkata, under the consultancy and overall supervision of RITES Ltd, were directed to conduct trial and testing of the passenger ropeway, besides conducting mock rescue and evacuation drills to ensure the safety of the passengers. During the PM’s visit, the trials were going on in the area.”

The 1.5-km ropeway has the capacity to transport 800 persons per hour to Bhairon temple at a steep altitude of 6,600 ft. It would reduce the arduous hour-long journey to just three minutes. The special cabins of ropeway have been imported from Switzerland and it has been completed at an estimated cost of Rs 85 crore.

The one-way fare for the ropeway is Rs 100 per person. The shrine board has approved additional life insurance cover of Rs 5 lakh for ropeway passengers which would be over and above the insurance cover of Rs 5 lakh already available to track pilgrims.