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Corporations/ Associations/ Others | Kerala - India | PID: 191047
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Global tenders will be floated within a month for the proposed multi-crore cable car project across the scenic Thamarassery Ghat Road linking Wayanad and Kozhikode districts.
The 90-crore project will implemented by Western Ghats Development Limited (WGDL), a new company formed under the supervision of the Wayanad Chamber of Commerce (WCC) that came up with the innovative proposal in consultation with the Tourism and Forest Departments.
The only remaining formality is the conversion of the type of land already purchased for the construction of lower and upper stations. Since the Revenue and Forest department authorities have raised no objections, the project coordinators hope that they will be able to secure the land conversion certificate from the government without delay.
The certificate is required for the lawful use of about two acres of land at Lakkidi, which is now part of a coffee plantation, for the construction of upper station. At Adivaram too, the already purchased plantation land for the base station will have to be converted for business purpose.
The clearance of the Forest Department is almost ready for erecting about 40 to 50 towers within the forest land. Nearly three acres of land will be handed over to the Forest Department in another location to compensate the loss of forest land used for the project.
“We are very excited about the tourism project as it has already evoked the warm response of Non-Resident Keralites. We will be sourcing public shares to complete this venture. The continuing support from the State government, Tourism authorities and people’s representatives is another factor that is fast-tracking things,” said WGDL Managing Director P. Johny. He added that the project would cut down the 23-km road distance on Ghat Road to just 3.5 km.
Mr. Johny, who is also president of WCC, said the cable car project expected to be completed by 2021 would be an effective alternative passage during emergency situations.
If realised, it will be the longest ropeway project in south India with a length of 3,670 metres and the capacity to transport 400 persons per hour. Tourism Department authorities are hoping that it could be one of the biggest attractions for tourists visiting the Malabar region.
Private partnership
The project got a fillip in 2017 when the WCC leaders and Kozhikode District Tourism Promotion Council authorities discussed the scope of a possible private partnership to take it forward. About five rounds of district-level meetings were held to discuss and finalise its implementation. The detailed project report was prepared with the support of a Kolkata-based company.
| Updated on: 31 - Oct - 2019
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