The two most famous tourist destinations of Pokhara — the Fewa Lake and Sarangkot — have been connected by a cable car. This is the first cable car service of the city, and has been christened the Annapurna Cable Car.
Tirtha Raj Tripathi, one of the managing directors of the new cable car, said that it was expected to serve as a tourist attraction.
Tripathi informed that the cable car would be tested by Japanese technicians as soon as the pandemic situation improved. “We will begin commercial operation at the earliest,” he said, adding, “We have 18 gondolas all ready for passengers. Seventeen gondolas will be used to carry eight passengers each and one will be used to transport goods.”
The number of gondolas may be 18 now but can be increased to 36 if needed, Tripathi shared.
The rope car will take passengers on a nearly 2.3-kilometre journey from Sadibagar, on the bank of the Fewa Lake, to the Sarangkot Hill in eight minutes while they take in the view of mountains, lakes and green forests of Pokhara. The cable car has the capacity to serve 1,500 people an hour.
Construction of the physical infrastructure of the sky tram, including its 18 towers, two stations, space for restaurants and parking, gardens, ticket counters and restrooms, was supposed to be completed last year but it got delayed due to the coronavirus outbreak. “Nevertheless, everything is complete and set to begin service now,” Tripathi said.
Rastriya Banijya Bank, Sunrise Bank and Nepal Bangladesh Bank are banking partners for the project.
A team comprising the likes of Pokhara’s youth entrepreneur laid the foundation stone for the cable car in 2017 aiming to complete construction in a year and a half. However, it took four years because of changes to the structure of the station building, land disputes and loss of technical manpower, Annapurna Cable Car’s managers told The Rising Nepal. The ropeway was built by Chitawan Co-E Group.
The delays also caused costs to balloon. Work was initially expected to cost Rs. 900 million but ended up costing Rs. 2 billion, the company stated.
Kalu Gurung, who is also the chairman of Annapurna Cable Car Company, and other Nepali businessmen invested 75 per cent of the total budget, former Japanese citizen late Takashi Miyahara invested 15 per cent and locals invested 10 per cent.
“Annapurna Cable Car uses newer technology than other cable cars of Nepal,” claimed Chairman Gurung.
Source : TRN,
