Thanks to a cable car project, the picturesque Patnitop tourist resort is all set to regain the glory and hustle-bustle it lost after it fell off the Jammu-Srinagar National highway route due to construction of the Chenani-Nashri tunnel.
The 2.8-km eco-friendly project, which was planned about 15years ago to boost tourism in the Jammu region, has been completed by EmpyreanSkyview Projects Private Limited in collaboration with a French company on aPublic-Private Partnership model at a cost of Rs 150 crore.
Despite the challenging terrain, the ropeway project wascompleted in a record time of 2.5 years after the work was initiated and it maybe dedicated to the nation any time soon.
“We are ready for a soft launch and waiting for the finalapproval from the government…With the inauguration of the cable car, I amsure that this region will emerge as one of the major tourist attractions inthe country,” Skyview Managing Director, Syed Junaid Altaf, said.
Situated at an altitude of 2,024 meters (6,640 feet), thehilltop tourist destination witnessed a decrease in footfall as commuterspreferred to take the shorter Chenani-Nashri tunnel route on the Jammu-SrinagarNational highway.
The 9.28-km Chenani-Nashri tunnel, opened in Arpil 2017,reduced the distance between the two capital cities by 30 kms and travel timeby two hours, bypassing destinations like Patnitop, Kud and Batote.
The lower terminal of the project is at Sanget, threekilometres from the Chenani-Nashri tunnel while the upper terminal is atPatnitop. The ropeway is easily accessible by the tourists.
The places which are in proximity to the lower terminalstation at Sanget are Sudh Mahadev, Gauri Kund and Mantalai, all havingreligious significance, while localities such as Nathatop, Madhatop and Sanasarare near the upper terminal at Patnitop.
“Over the past week, a preview ride was undertaken for thelocals including schoolchildren and tourist players to showcase theproject,” Altaf said, adding besides the cable car ride, Patnitop willoffer several other facilities like the country’s first magic carpet, tubingsledge and zip line.
He said the cable car project will definitely give boost totourism activities in Patnitop, which has a lot to offer for people of allages.
“This is a family destination and our idea is to satisfyeveryone, from a six-year-old to a 65-year-old. The ropeway is located in themiddle of breathtaking locations which will get connected once the cable carstarts its commercial operational,” said Altaf, the Skyview MD.
The firm’s sales and marketing head, Syed Ali Jafary, saidthe haul rope has a diameter of 52-mm and project is spread over 11 acres,which includes 10 acres at the lower terminal and one acre at the upperterminal.
He said the ropeway features 18 cable cars along with eighttowers.
“Skyview Patnitop brings its visitor to one of India’shighest and longest ropeways soaring over 65 meters from the ground withlongest span of 849 meters between the eight towers,” he said.
The entire infrastructure, including the towers, ropes andcabins, has been imported from France through the support of Empyrean SkyviewProject Limited’s technology partner POMA, which deals in ropewaytransportation.
He said that each cabin can carry eight people with thecapability of 600 per hour. The one-way journey takes about 10 minutes (roundtrip 20 minutes), excluding the waiting time at the terminals.
He also said that adventure seekers can look forward to aseries of 9 zigzag zip wires measuring 580 meters with a starting altitude1,344 meters and ending altitude of 1,371 meters from the sea level.
“All-season secure and fun activity on the artificial grassfor children and adults with innovation guarantees pure pleasure. The tubestarts at an altitude of 1,366 meters and ends at an altitude of 1,329 metersfrom the sea level and features 238 meters of slopes,” he said, while talkingabout tubing sledge.
He said the Magic Carpet is a lift or a rocky mountainconveyor system to access numerous activities. PTI