Sambalpur: The first ropeway of west Odisha, which will connect Jawahar Udyan, the basement of Hirakud dam, with Gandhi Minar top will be ready by September end.

"The Rs 8.80-crore project is at a finishing stage and only minor civil works are left to be completed," executive engineer of the Odisha Construction Corporation B.K. Sahu told The Telegraph.

The OCC has undertaken the construction, while Calcutta-based Damodar Ropeway is extending mechanical and technical support.

The last concrete slab at the minar top, which will work as landing platform, will be cast shortly.

The corporation will take up trial run in the last week of September and thereafter handover the ropeway to state government for inauguration.

"Another Rs 40 lakh will be required for installation of a generator and a high-power transformer for the ropeway. The corporation has procured all its materials and equipment and it will not take much time to assemble the materials," said Sahu.

Chief minister Naveen Patnaik had laid the foundation stone for the 421-metre ropeway project in September 2016. The project was delayed by almost a year to start because of the want of forest clearance. The project was delayed further due to change in design.

The Damodar Ropeway will manage the project and look after its maintenance for the first three years.