Sambalpur: West Odisha's first ropeway, which will connect Jawahar Udyan at Hirakud with Gandhi Minar, will be ready by June.

The Rs 2.26-crore project was delayed by a year because of the hurdles in forest clearance. Work on the project had begun in May 2017.

Chief minister Naveen Patnaik had laid the foundation stone for the 421m ropeway project in September 2016.

The Odisha Construction Corporation has undertaken the construction, while Calcutta-based Damodar Ropeway will extend mechanical and technical support, said corporation executive engineer B.K. Sahu.

"Damodar Ropeway will also manage the project for the first three years," Sahu said, adding that "the work is in full swing and will complete before June".

The construction firm has erected all four towers for the project. Fabrication for the ropeway is also close to completion.

Twelve trolleys, each capable of carrying four persons, will ferry tourists.