NIA gives nod to Rs 120-crore Pahalgam cable car project

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has given its nod to the Rs 120 crore cable car project in Baisaran of Pahalgam that witnessed a major terror attack on April 22 in which 26 people were shot dead by Pakistan-backed terrorists.

The issue of the 1.4-km project was raised during the recent Assembly session held at Srinagar in which MLA Altaf Ahmad Wani asked about the status of the Gandola project at the site.

The NIA was approached by the J&K Government that has already allotted the project to a company to get permission for a survey and also to commence the work on a detailed project report (DPR) for the project. The central agency has informed the J&K Government that they do not have any objection with the project.

As per the information available, the Tourism Department and Jammu and Kashmir Cable Car Corporation (JKCCC) will develop the project.

The alignment for the project has been identified by the JKCCC. The lower terminal point is located near the Yatri Niwas at Pahalgam and the upper terminal point is located at Baisaran. The land required, 9.13 hectares, belongs to the Forest Department.

As per the official reply of the government in the Assembly: “The corporation has floated tenders for engagement of a consultant for preparation of the detailed project report (DPR) and tender document for the said project. The tenders have been finalised and the work has been allotted to qualified agency M/s Ronmas India Pvt Ltd. A letter of intent (LoI) has been issued in favour of the agency and a formal agreement has been signed between JKCCC and the executing agency. However, the agency could not carry out its assignment in view of the post-Pahalgam scenario.”

“The agency has requested permission to visit the site for conducting topography and geo-technical studies. The matter for grant of permission to conduct the site visit has been taken up with the Deputy Commissioner, Anantnag, who has conveyed to take up the matter with the National Investigation Agency (NIA),” the reply on October 27 stated.

“The JKCCC has engaged an agency for preparation of the DPR. However, the agency has not been able to commence the survey and other allied work due to the restrictions imposed after the Baisaran incident,” the reply read.

As the land required belongs to the Forest Department, the corporation has submitted the departmental proposal on the Parivesh portal for transfer of land which is presently under process. “The estimated cost of the project is approximately Rs 100–120 crore which includes allied infrastructure and land compensation. The funding for the project shall be met from the corporation’s own resources” the reply in the Assembly stated.