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| Helpline on anvil |
Ranchi, Oct. 18: To breathe new life into the state’s lone ropeway service on Trikut Hills in Deoghar, Jharkhand Tourism Development Corporation (JTDC) has decided to outsource its operation and upkeep to private players on royalty basis.
The service, launched on July 21 last year, has remained suspended since October 2 following a technical snag and pending power bills. And the tourism body, which rakes in Rs 50 lakh per annum by running the service, is going the whole hog to set its coffers jingling once again.
“We have decided to outsource the operation and maintenance of Trikut ropeway. Through the new venture, we expect better commercial use of this unique property,” JTDC managing director Siddharth Tripathi told The Telegraph.
Last week, the directorate of tourism invited bids from companies/agencies of national repute and with at least five years of experience in operation and maintenance of passenger ropeway.
Tripathi said once a private company/agency was roped in for the services, it would bear the onus of ensuring insurance coverage for passengers and machinery, besides paying an annual royalty for a period of three years.
After the Trikut ropeway was launched in 2009, Calcutta-based Damodar Ropeway Construction Company was entrusted with its operation for the first six months. The JTDC later took over the services.
It is learnt that the agency had approached JTDC with a plea to shortlist it as a lone service provider on nomination basis, i,e. without inviting bids.
“It (Damodar Ropeway) was willing to pay Rs 24 lakh. But we expect a revenue of Rs 80 lakh and more per annum if the service is used to its full capacity,” a JTDC official said, hinting at the need to outsource the ropeway.
The Trikut ropeway has 25 cabins, each with a capacity to carry four passengers. Constructed at an angle of 44 degrees, the total length of the rope on which the cabins are fixed is about 766m (2,512 feet). The climb from the ground to the hilltop is about 392m (1,282 feet). Tickets are priced at Rs 25 for a one-way journey and Rs 50 for round trip.
