Latest news with #NationalRopewaysDevelopmentProgramme
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Protest held against Bijali Mahadev Ropeway project in Kullu
The faith in the local deity (devta) runs supreme in Himachal Pradesh and this was witnessed once again on Friday as residents took to streets seeking scrapping of the Bijali Mahadev ropeway project citing 'deity's orders'. People stage a protest against Bijli Mahadev ropeway project in Kullu. (Aqil Khan /HT) The protesters which had sizeable number of women and elderly, was mobilized by the Bijili Mahadev Ropeway Sangharsh Samiti (BMRSS) and they submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union minister Nitin Gadkari demanding cancellation of the project citing 'deity's orders.' Deputy Commissioner, Kullu, Torul S Raveesh, on Friday said: 'A memorandum was handed over and we will be forwarding the same to the government.' MLA defends project, terms protest politically motivated MLA of Kullu, Sunder Singh Thakur said, 'Those against development are opposing the project in garb of the devta's order and the project is politically motivated.' Lashing out at the BJP for 'double speak', Thakur said, 'In the 2022 assembly elections, when former MP and former MLA Maheshwar Singh campaigned by putting up posters for the construction of Bijli Mahadev ropeway, no one opposed it at that time and today they are opposing it, this is their hypocrisy'. Bijli Mahadev is a famous pilgrimage site in Kullu district. It is a Union government project under the Parvatmala Yojana, also known as the National Ropeways Development Programme — designed to offer a sustainable and efficient alternative to traditional road transport in hilly areas. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has laid the foundation stone of the ropeway project for Bijli Mahadev in March 2024. The residents of Kharal valley, which lies at the foothills of the Bijli Mahadev temple have been holding agitations against the ropeway project. The residents say that the 2.4-km-long ropeway project would destroy the hill of Bijli Mahadev, pointing towards the cracking up at several places. The protesters gathered at Ramshila in Kullu and walked till Dhalpur ground where they raised slogans against the project, where heavy deployment of police was done. 'Devta is against the project and we are here to demand scrapping of the project. Development cannot be at the cost of the faith', said 75-year-old Deena Ram. 'Bijli Mahadev is a centre of religious faith and commercial centre should not be built there. Keeping in mind the faith of local people, it should be canceled,' said Devika Rani, 65, a local. The president of Devbhoomi Jagran Manch, Kshitij Sood, said, 'Devbani is supreme in Devbhoomi Kullu and the deity is repeatedly opposing the construction so this ropeway should be cancelled'. President of BMRSS, Suresh Negi, said, 'People are on the streets against the ropeway project as the devta is against the same. The project is coming up against the orders of the devta.' Former president of Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC), Kullu, Ram Singh said, 'People and organizations associated with Dev Samaj will have to come together. He also warned the president of Kardar Sangh to respect the people associated with Dev Samaj and join them in their campaign. I will take your voice to Delhi'. Vinender Singh Jamwal, caretaker of Bijli Mahadev temple said, 'We have a special request to the central government, Prime Minister and Nitin Gadkari that they should cancel this ropeway and follow the order of the deity and respect the public feelings of the people here'.
Time of India
20-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
Road ministry sets up an empowered committee for ropeways standards and certification
The ministry of road transport and highways has established the empowered committee to set standards and certification systems for ropeways and its components, aimed at ensuring public safety in the construction, operations or maintenance of ropeways systems in the country. 'The ministry hereby establishes the Empowered Committee for Ropeways Technical Evaluation, Certification and Safety ( EC-Rope-TECS ) to establish and recognise technical codes and standards suited to national requirements, certification systems for ropeways and its components, commissioning requirements, safety standards, periodic inspections and audits,' it said. 'Besides, it will undertake technical investigations in case of an incident affecting public safety in the construction, operations or maintenance of ropeways systems,' it added in an office memorandum issued on Thursday. The ministry argued that there is a need to establish an institutional structure for the setting and coordination of technical standards, certifications, processes, audit and coordination amongst state and union territory governments with primary focus on public safety, considering the rapidly expanding ropeways sector as a means of transportation and mobility. The 14-member empowered committee will be headed by the director general road development and special secretary and will have technical experts and representatives from states and union territories as well as industry along with the head of Bureau of Indian Standards. Live Events The commissioner of metro railway safety (CMRS) has been designated ex officio Commissioner of Ropeways Systems Safety (CRSS) for the safety audit of ropeways to be established by or on behalf of or with the partnership of the central government or any central public sector enterprise. To enhance last-mile connectivity in remote and hilly regions, the government had in Budget 2022 announced the National Ropeways Development Programme – Parvatmala under the public-private partnership (PPP) mode. The plan is to develop over 250 ropeway projects covering 1,200 km within five years through the National Highway Logistics Management Limited (NHLML), under the ministry of road transport and highways with focus on states of Uttar Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Assam, and Maharashtra. Aligned with the 'Make in India' initiative, the programme mandates at least 50% indigenous components in ropeway construction. The government is of the view that with minimal environmental impact, ropeways offer a cost-effective, energy-efficient, and reliable transport solution for India's challenging terrains. While Varanasi Urban Ropeway and Gaurikund-Kedarnath Ropeway is under construction, the union cabinet has recently approved the 12.4 km Govindghat to Hemkund Sahib Ji ropeway and the 12.9 km Sonprayag to Kedarnath ropeway to be executed under the design, build, finance, operate, and transfer (DBFOT) model in a public-private partnership (PPP) framework. Economic Times WhatsApp channel )
Hindustan Times
17-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Mizoram Guv stresses on urgent need for strategies for urban decongestion
Aizawl, Mizoram Governor Gen Vijay Kumar Singh on Tuesday stressed the urgent need for innovative strategies to combat urban congestion. Singh held a meeting with officials of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways , National Highways Logistics Management Limited and the State's Urban Development & Poverty Alleviation department to discuss tapping potential ropeway projects in the state to improve connectivity in the state under the Centre's ambitious National Ropeways Development Programme - Parvatmala Pariyojana, a statement issued by the Department of Information and Public Relations said. During the meeting, Singh emphasised the importance of advancing initiatives for urban decongestion. Noting the scarcity of vacant spaces in Aizawl, he advocated for exploring sites beyond the heart of the city to ensure smooth project execution. Singh underscored the necessity of proactively addressing connectivity and public concerns through meticulous planning, positioning the Parvatmala initiative, connecting one end to another, easing problems for the people, as a catalyst for sustainable development in Mizoram's hilly landscape, the statement said. He further emphasised the need to consider ways to effectively implement this scheme in collaboration with other line departments. MoRTH Additional Secretary Vinay Kumar reaffirmed the ministry's unwavering commitment to driving ropeway projects in Mizoram, the statement said. He said that the Parvatmala programme is designed to enhance connectivity in mountainous regions, with 90 per cent of the generated revenue earmarked for reinvestment into local development, fostering economic growth and infrastructure progress. State Urban Development and Poverty Alleviation Secretary Lalsawma Pachuau had an insightful PowerPoint presentation, showing the proposed ropeway corridors for Aizawl and its surrounding areas under the Aizawl Sustainable Urban Transport Project . He outlined the comprehensive mobility plan, spanning 280 square kilometres, aimed at decongesting Aizawl city. The plan encompasses a ropeway, pedestrian-friendly infrastructure, a regional truck terminal, enhanced bus and truck terminals and an upgraded public transport system, among other initiatives, the statement added.
New Indian Express
27-04-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Centre plans 25 new ropeway projects across 10 states to boost connectivity and tourism
NEW DELHI: The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has started preparing comprehensive reports to check scope and feasibility of the development of at least 25 ropeway projects in 10 states, including Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Rajasthan, and Arunachal Pradesh. The sites identified to introduce aerial transport system include Ooty (Tamil Nadu), Boyakonda Gangamma Temple (AP), Mullayyana Giri (Karnataka), Shirgul Mahadev Temple (Sirmour, Himachal Pradesh), Palampur Thathri-Chhunja Glacier (Himachal Pradesh), Hempeupet Peak (Assam), Lokopriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport (Assam), Shivneri Fort (Junnar, Maharashtra) and Amer Fort-Nahargarh Fort (Jaipur, Rajasthan). The National Highways Logistics Management Limited, the agency entrusted with the work for development of ropeways projects under Parvatmala Pariyojana, will soon appoint consultants for preparing Detailed Project Reports for these projects. The agency is a wholly owned company of NHAI, which functions under the ministry. The 24-km ropeway in Assam, connecting Khanapara to Lokopriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Guwahati, is significant because of its length. Most of them aim to improve accessibility to religious and historic sites. For DPRs, the assessment of the sites and the length of the proposed ropeway with Lower Terminal Point will be finalized. The review will also help in taking decision whether the length is to be increased or reduced considering site specific local factors. To improve last-mile connectivity in remote and hilly regions, the Centre in the 2022 Budget announced the National Ropeways Development Programme.
