Ground broken on ambitious ropeway project in Gwalior

Construction of the ambitious ropeway project from Baradari to Gwalior Fort was inaugurated for the second time with a ‘Bhoomi Pujan’ ceremony performed by mayor Vivek Narayan Shejwalkar on Wednesday.

Construction of the ambitious ropeway project from Baradari (Phoolbagh) to Gwalior Fort was inaugurated for the second time with a ‘Bhoomi Pujan’ (groundbreaking) ceremony performed by mayor Vivek Narayan Shejwalkar on Wednesday.

Mayor Vivek Narayan Shejwalkar performs Bhoomi Pujan ceremony for the ropeway project, in Gwalior on Wednesday. (HT photo)

The mega project was finally green-lit after missing two previous deadlines due to pending government clearances from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and the state ASI.

Chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had earlier performed a ‘Bhoomi Pujan’ about five years back, but the project failed to take off, according to M/s Damodar Infra Ltd, the implementing agency of the project.

On Wednesday, mayor Shejwalkar, district collector Dr Sanjay Goel, GMC officials and representatives of the implementing agency performed the ceremonial inauguration.

The PPP (Public Private Partnership) project of approximately 750-meter long wired (cable) network will be completed at a cost of over Rs 13 crore.

Under the project, five-six towers, each 110 to 120 meters tall, will be set up to carry six or eight cable cars (trolleys) from the lower terminal at Baradari (Phoolbagh) to the upper terminal at Gwalior Fort (behind Scindia School).

He added that on completion, the project will not only help tourists save time and provide hustle-free sorties to Gwalior Fort from Phoolbagh, but also reduce pollution at the fort. The entire trip will take just seven to 10 minutes.

The ropeway project is expected to become a future landmark of the city and complement the magnificent Gwalior Fort, which attracts thousands of visitors each year from across the world.