[Assam] Foundation of North Guwahati ropeway project laid (The Assam Tribune, 05.12.2009)

[Buljit Buragohain]

Foundation of North Guwahati ropeway project laid
Staff Reporter
 GUWAHATI,
Dec 4 – With the twin objective of boosting tourism and easing
communication between the city and North Guwahati, the foundation stone
of a ropeway over the Brahamputra was laid today by Chief Minister
Tarun Gogoi. The ropeway would connect North Guwahati with the maincity
, reducing transportation time from one-and-a-half hours by road to
merely 6 minutes and 46 seconds. Two cabins with a capacity of 31
boarders each including the operator, would move above the river with a
maximum lift of 19 meters above high flood level. Approximately 250
passengers could be ferried per hour considering ten hours operation
per day.


The GMDA project — a long expected one — would cost the Government
around Rs 28.17 crore and the projected time of completion, as stated
by the Guwahati Development Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, is around 18
months. The total length of the ropeway would be 1,820 meters.


Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said that a
considerable stretch of the riverfront would be freed in order to let
the denizens enjoy the serene natural beauty.

“Through this
ropeway, the people of North Guwahati would be able to travel to the
main city within a very short time, which would help boost tourism and
economy of the area. Earlier, the haphazard development of the city led
to destruction of water bodies, hills and the depletion of green cover
of the city. So, while developing Guwahati, it is being emphasized now
that the natural resources of the city are not disturbed” said Gogoi.


The construction work has been awarded to Samir Damodar Ropeway
Ltd, Guwahati, which would carry on the work in association with
GARAVENTA AG, Switzerland as designer and equipment supplier and Tantia
Construction Ltd, Kolkata as well foundation partner. RITES Ltd has
also been entrusted to supervise and monitor the work during the
construction as project management consultant.


According to a traffic survey report, the potential traffic is
3,265 persons per day in the year 2009 and it will grow up to 8,537 by
2043.

The GDD Minister while speaking on the occasion said that
the Government is giving ample thrust on the security standard, which
is at par with the European security standards. The rescue system
includes self-driven carriage and cabin.


“Two six-storey buildings would be constructed on both the river
banks – opposite Nehru Park and near Doul Gobinda temple. The
passengers would be dropped on the fourth floor of the buildings and
the upper floors could be used for beautification and commercial
purposes,” he said.


“Each passenger would be allowed to carry belongings weighing ten
kg along. Moreover, patients could be carried on stretcher in the
ropeway cabin. Around 20-25 motorbikes can also be carried across at a
time,” he added.

 

 (The Assam Tribune, 05.12.2009)



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