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Blame Game Erupts Over Cancelled Mansa Devi Ropeway Tender In Haridwar
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Haridwar ropeway tender has drawn criticism from civic leaders and the temple trust after the Uttarakhand High Court flagged safety lapses
Haridwar's ropeway controversy has escalated into a full-blown blame game. Following the Uttarakhand High Court's sharp criticism of the Mansa Devi ropeway tender, highlighting procedural lapses and passenger safety risks, the Haridwar Municipal Corporation abruptly scrapped the tender on June 10. Now, Mayor Kiran Jaisal, local councillors, the temple trust, and Congress leaders are lambasting the government, accusing it of gambling with the safety of lakhs of pilgrims.
High Court Halts Tender
The High Court took strong exception to the tender's expanded eligibility criteria, which included firms from highways, hospitals, telecom, and metro sectors—industries that lack ropeway expertise. The court flagged serious safety concerns and a lack of transparency in the process, describing it as 'tampering with human life" Under pressure, the corporation withdrew the tender just before a final ruling.
Mayor Kiran Jaisal came forward with serious allegations about former municipal commissioner Varun Chaudhari, now suspended in a separate land acquisition case. She accused him of unilaterally diluting eligibility norms after her takeover on February 7, without consulting the Municipal Board. 'Only when the submission deadline was extended was I informed," she said. Her attack directly implicates Chaudhari in manipulating tender terms.
Councillor Amplifies Outrage
The Shri Mansa Devi Temple Trust, led by Mahant Ravindra Puri, joined the clamour. In a letter to Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, Puri demanded that only ropeway specialists—like incumbent Usha Breco Ltd, which has safely run the system since 1981—be allowed in the bidding. He warned the expanded tender could imperil thousands of devotees visiting the temple.
Official Response: Fresh Tender On Horizon
Municipal Commissioner Nandan Kumar affirmed that the tender floated pre his February 20 appointment was under review. He pledged a fresh tender with reinstated eligibility—at least five years of ropeway-specific experience—and confirmed the corporation had acted on the June 3 committee's recommendations.
Safety Vs Speed: Experts Weigh In
Legal observers and ropeway experts have stressed that ropeway operations demand specialised technical know-how—unlike standard infrastructure projects. The court's intervention and committee review highlight the risks of allowing construction firms without this expertise to compete.
What Happens Next?
Fresh tender: The corporation has paused the current Expression of Interest (EOI)/tender and is preparing a new one with clearer ropeway experience clauses.
Political heat: With multiple stakeholders, from local governance to temple authorities and opposition figures, now demanding accountability, the government faces mounting pressure to follow through on safety-first procurement.
Final Take
What began as a routine tender has spiralled into a fierce confrontation, revealing cracks in governance and oversight. Mayoral and council-level outrage, temple trust alarm, and judicial censure have converged in a rare moment of unified demand: that public safety—not bureaucratic shortcuts or backdoor deals—must guide infrastructure decisions. With a rewritten tender underway, all eyes are now on whether Haridwar can deliver a safe, transparent process befitting one of India's most sacred pilgrim hubs.
