By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Dec 15: The foundation stone for the Shillong Ropeway project will be laid by the second week of January next year, Tourism Minister Paul Lyngdoh said on Friday.
The estimated Rs 138 crore project was conceived by the state government two years ago.
Once the work is completed in 18 to 24 months, it will be the first of its kind project in the state and the biggest in the Northeast.
Lyngdoh said the government has got all clearances from the line departments.
He said one major hindrance was obtaining clearance from the Forest department as the project involves exchange of land and afforestation programme. These are being sorted out, he said.
The Shillong Ropeway service will begin at the Madan Laban terminal and will go towards Lumparing and the Shillong Peak viewing platform. There will be 12 cables at first, and the engineering will be completed in accordance with European standards.
The state Cabinet cleared the project in September last year.
The state government had earlier signed an agreement with the Riat Laban Dorbar Shnong to acquire 1.34 hectares of land around
the Shillong Peak on lease for 35 years for the construction of the ambitious project.
The government will develop the entire area as a high-end tourist spot. The Shillong View Point is one of the most visited tourist sites in and around the city.
The ropeway project will comprise a lower terminal point at the Forest Nursery Riat Laban, to be built on a 11146.96 sq m plot of land and at an altitude of 838 m above MSL. It will house a station building, concourse, maintenance room, ticket room-cum-office, storeroom, security room, waiting area, public convenience and parking area.
The upper terminal point has been proposed on a community land. It will be built on an area of 2025 sq m and at an altitude of 1633 m above MSL. It will house a station building, concourse, ticket room-cum-office, maintenance room, waiting area, food court, public convenience and cabin parking. Apart from the terminal points, there will be nine towers to be built on an area of 251.17 sq m.