Gangtok, Dec 07: Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Chamling today inaugurated the state's first passenger ropeway system for Gangtok at the busy Deorali Bazar near the state capital. The ropeway, designed and built by Kolkata-based Damodar Ropeways and Construction Company Limited (DRCC) on a turnkey basis in two years, will operate between Deorali and the state assembly.
The one km long bi-cable zigback ropeway has two cabins which move in reverse directions and can accommodate 24 passengers at a stretch.
The ropeway built by the DRCC in association with Doppelmayr, a well known Swiss company, at a cost of Rs 14 crore with an inbuilt computerised safety mechanism to take care of usual snags like power failure and high velocity winds, will cover a distance of 3.5 km by road in six minutes, DRCC Chief Engineer K K Roy said in his speech at the inaugural ceremony.
The highrise ropeway terminal buildings have been designed so as to integrate the ropeway with other places and activities of tourist interest in Gangtok, he added.
Talking to reporters soon after the inauguration of the ropeway the Chief Minister described it as a major step towards promoting tourism in the state.
"Its successful commissioning has encouraged us to undertake other ropeway projects on the anvil in right earnest including the one at Namchi in south district," he said.
Bureau Report