Junagadh City News – Girnar Mountain Ropeway Project

Ropeway project to begin soon between Girnar Parvat Taleti and Ambaji.

The project for providing aerial ropeway service between Girnar Mountain Taleti and Ambaji, about 3,300 feet above sea level, is likely to begin soon. It was earlier stopped after environmentalists objected to the use of the belonging to the sloth bear sanctuary for the project. The Rs 70-crore project was conceived two years ago.

Asked about the delay in the project, Junagadh District Collector Aswini Kumar said, “It was not because of administrative reasons. The company was carrying out its own feasibility studies.”Now, the Gujarat Tourism Corporation Limited (GTCL) has decided to generate public opinion to install aerial ropeway in Junagadh after a public hearing on June 3. The Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) has decided to conduct a public hearing in which locals as well as environmentalists will be invited to air their views and suggestions.

The report submitted by Usha Breco Ltd, which is the project implementing agency, has said that during construction phase, forest land will be converted for non-forest purpose, which will cause minimal damage to flora and fauna.“This will be compensated by carrying out plantation in an area of 7.29 hectares. Operation Phase Analysis of abiotic factors reveals that ambient air and water quality will remain practically unaffected, thus indirect adverse impact on flora and fauna is ruled out.”

Pravin Sheth, an environmentalist who was assigned the task of analyzing the report submitted by Usha Breco, said, “The ropeway will be a blessing to those pilgrims who are not in a position to climb all the way up to Ambaji and Jain temples. Children, senior citizens, asthma and arthritis patients will also be benefited; tourists will also be attracted.”