Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Mar 13: In order to look into all the aspects relating to the Jammu aerial ropeway, which has suddenly struck the roadblock in the recent past, a high-level committee has been constituted on the directions of the Governor N N Vohra and report of this panel would play vital role in deciding the fate of this project of immense importance for Jammu region for tourism promotion.
The decision to formulate committee was taken after EXCELSIOR exclusively carried a news-item on February 20, 2016 highlighting that some vested interests in the Tourism Department were hell bent to derail Jammu ropeway project and even managed to build an opinion about floating of new tenders for fresh allotment of the project despite the fact that much headway has been made in the construction of aerial ropeway.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that in consultation with the Governor, his Advisor Parvez Dewan recently constituted a high-level committee headed by Financial Commissioner, Planning and Development Department, B B Vyas and comprising Principal Secretary Tourism, Sandeep Naik, Commissioner Secretary, Finance, Navin Choudhary and Law Secretary, Ashraf Mir.
“The committee has been asked to look into all aspects relating to Jammu aerial ropeway and submit report to the Governor so that final call is taken on the execution of the project”, sources said while disclosing that now the report of this high-level committee would play vital role in deciding the fate of the project.
They further said, “the committee will examine in detail the agreement signed between Jammu and Kashmir State Cable Car Corporation and Calcutta-based Damodar Ropeway and Infra Limited (DRIL). Moreover, it will also go through the Detailed Project Report before deciding whether the project should be executed through Damodar Ropeway and Infra Limited or fresh global tenders are required to be floated as has been decided in the recent past”.
“The possibility of committee inviting the representatives of Damodar Ropeway and Infra Limited for clarification of certain issues raised in the recent past cannot be ruled out”, sources said, adding “the legal implications of terminating the contract with Damodar Ropeway after much headway on the project would also be deliberated upon by the high level committee”.
It is pertinent to mention here that Damodar Ropeway and Infra Limited, which is also constructing ropeway between Bhawan of Shri Mata Vaishnodevi Shrine and Bhairon Ghati, has already made up its mind to drag the Jammu and Kashmir State Cable Car Corporation in the court of law if the contract is terminated unilaterally that too on unjustifiable grounds.
The passenger aerial ropeway between Pir Kho-Mahamaya-Shahbad was conceived several years back in order to provide required impetus to the tourism related activities in the winter capital of the State. After crossing one after another hurdle, this ambitious project finally received the mandatory Supreme Court clearance in the month of November 2013. Thereafter, the State Forest Advisory Committee in its meeting held on January 10, 2014 gave nod to the transfer of 56 kanals of forest land at Mahamaya to the Jammu and Kashmir State Cable Car Corporation.
With all the necessary clearances and approvals in the hand, the foundation stone of the project was laid on February 24, 2014 and in the month of May 2014, the Damodar Ropeway signed an agreement with the J&K Cable Car Corporation for Rs 20.35 crore worth Indian component and Euro 1188526 for Damodar’s Turkey based technical partner for installing passenger ropeway between Pir Kho-Mahamaya-Shahbad.
Thereafter, the company received first installment of mobilization advance to the tune of Rs 1.06 crore for Indian component. The company, as desired by the J&K Cable Car Corporation, even submitted all the necessary drawings to RITES, a Project Management Consultant engaged by the Corporation. All these drawings were then approved by the RITES.
“Keeping in view all these developments towards execution of project, it would not be advisable to go in for fresh tenders, which would not only cause delay in the project but also increase the cost of the project considerably”, sources said, adding “Damodar Ropeway is closely monitoring the situation and will take appropriate decision after going through the report of the high-level committee”.
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