The much awaited cable car to Makhdoom Sahib (RA) shrine on the foothills of Koh-e-Maran is all set to start in the first week of December this year. In this regard government today fixed Rs. 100 per ticket as initial tariff of cable car ride. The decision was taken at a high level meeting taken by Minister for Tourism Mr G A Mir and Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Mr. Ali Mohammad Sagar here on Wednesday. Principal Secretary Planning, Mr. B.R sharma, Secretary Tourism and Culture, Mr. Zaffar Ahmad, Director Genral, Accounts and Treasuries, Mr. Mohammad Ashraf, Managing Director Cable Car Corporation. Mr. Tufail Matto, Secretary, JKCCC, Mr. Ajaz-ul Rehaman and other officers participated in the meeting.Giving details, the Tourism Minister said that the project was approved by the State government in 2010 to provide easy access to devotees and tourists to the revered shrine on the hillock. He said in this regard Government had conducted a survey for the project through RITES Ltd.
The Tourism Minister said the Rope way was constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 6.50 crore adding that the 550 meter ropeway has been built by Jammu and Kashmir Cable Car Corporation (JKCCC) through Kolkatta based Ropeway and Resorts Pvt Ltd. “We have successfully undertaken the test runs of the Cable Car. This has paved way for its commissioning next month, “Mir informed. He said four cabins, two on each side would run on the double ropeway adding that it has been designed to ferry 240 passengers per hour
“We are committed to bring Shaher-e-Khaas on our tourism map and develop attractive facilities there and Cable Car is part of that endeavour,” Mir said and added that a lift for old and physically challenged persons will also be provided at the facility”. He said that all safety standards have been maintained in the rope way.Speaking on the occasion, Mr Sagar revealed that Government has also envisaged revival of the historic city of Naagar Nagar, built by Mughal Emperor Jalaluddin Muhammad Akbar in 1589, by facilitating cable car through the historic monuments in Shaher-e-Khaas including Hari Parbat Fort and its walled enclosure called Kalai, Kathi Darwaza, Sangeen Darwaza and Badamwari.Mr. Sagar said the Cable Car to Makhdoom Sahib (RA) shrine, will serve as a facility for devotes and as one of the major attractions for tourists. He said such tourist related activities will promote tourism in Downtown. He said to market cultural arts and handicrafts of Shaher-e-Khaas, a Heritage Interpretation Centre is being constructed close to the cable car site.The Rural Development Minister said the project would go a long way in promoting tourism in the old City besides providing an alternative mode of transportation to the pilgrims coming to pay obeisance at the revered shrine of Hazrat Sultan-ul-Arifeen Sheikh Hamza Makhdoom.