Cable car service likely in Shivapur hills

Shivapuri Eco-Tourism and Cable Car Ltd is seeking govt nod to start construction.

KATHMANDU, May 1: A company has showed interest to build a cable car service in Shivapuri hills. Shivapuri EEco-Tourism and Cable Car Ltd has expressed interest to build cable car service between Gokarna on the outskirts of the Kathmandu Valley to Mulabari in Shivapuri Hills.

Shivapuri is one of the four hills that surround Kathmandu Valley. It is one of the attractions of the Shivapuri-Nagarjun National Park, and a popular destination for different activities like hiking, cycling and meditation.

Indra Lama, chairman of Shivapuri Eco Tourism and Cable Car Ltd, told Republica that the Department of Tourism (DoT) has already registered the company. "We have already registered a company to develop the cable car project in Shivapuri," Lama said, adding: "We aim to invest Rs 1 billion in the project.”

According to Lama, the company will have 132 promoters. It also plans to float shares to public.

The base station of the cable car will be at Than Danda of Gokarneshwor municipality and the top station will be at Mulabari in Shivapuri National Park.

"The ride will be of around 10 minutes. One can enjoy the panoramic view of mountains stretching from Kanchenjunga in the east to Manasu in the west during the ride," Lama added.

The company also plans to build a view tower, resort and meditation center near the top station.

“We believe the project will benefit both the government and locals. It will attract domestic and foreign tourists,” he said, adding that the participation of locals' in the project will be ensured from the very beginning.

As the proposed project lies in a protected area, Lama also said that the company will strictly adhere to guidelines of the national park. “We will ensure that there is no negative impact of the project in the environment as well as nearby villages,” he added.

The company has already initiated the process to acquire license from the government. “We are organizing a field visit for Tourism Minister Rabindra Adhikari and Forest Minister Shakti Bahadur Basnet as well as officials of DoT on May 5. A decision on operational license for the cable car project is expected after the visit,” he added.

Lama also said that the company will request the forest minister to help them acquire land in Shivapuri-Nagarjun National Park to build the project.