Work on DPR of Pokahra cable car project begins

POKHARA, March 31: The plan to build a cable car service from Phewa Lake to World Peace Stupa in Pumdi Bhumdi VDC of Kaski went a step further on Tuesday after the government allowed developers of the project to prepare detailed project report (DPR).

Bishnu Om Bade, joint secretary of Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport (MoPIT) and Rajesh Babu Shrestha, executive director of Manakamana Darshan, signed an agreement to this effect on Tuesday.The 1.3-kilometer cable car project is being jointly developed by Manakamana Darshan, Chitwan Co-E and Doppelmayr of Austria.

As per the agreement, DPR of the project has to be prepared within two months.

"We will prepare DPR within two months and submit it to the ministry for approval," Shrestha told Republica. "In case we fail to prepare DPR within two months, there is an option of extending deadline by one month."

The developers had started construction works about one and half years ago. But it was halted after a petition was filed at the Supreme Court. However, the developers continued work on the project after the apex court quashed the petition in the last week of January.

"The Supreme Court verdict was encouraging. Agreement to prepare DPR could be signed because of the verdict," said Shrestha. He further added that cable car service will be yet another attraction for tourists visiting Pokhara and that it would help to increase tourist's length of stay in the lake city.

After the DPR is prepared, the project will be developed as per the build-own-operate-transfer (BOOT) model. The developers will have to complete the project within two years.

"After the construction is complete, the developers will get operating license for 20 years which can be extended by five years," Shrestha said, adding, "As per the agreement, the project has to be handed over to the government after 25 years."

According to the study conducted by Manakamana Darshan two years ago, the project is likely to cost Rs 1.3 billion.

Shrestha said the station of cable car service will be built in 113 ropanis of land in Basundhara Park.

"The cable car service will increase flow of domestic and foreign tourists to World Peace Stupa and other surrounding areas in Pumdi Bhumdi," said Shrestha.

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