More cable cars to ride over Darjeeling

VIVEK CHHETRI

A station of the defunct ropeway at Judge Bazar in Darjeeling; and Singtom tea garden from where the service is proposed to be relaunched. Pictures by Suman Tamang Darjeeling, Feb. 3: The Queen of the Hills will have one more cable car service for tourists sooner or later with a proposal being mooted for the revival of the ropeway between Darjeeling and Bijanbari. The 8km-long ropeway, used for the transport of goods, has been defunct for over two decades. The Darjeeling Himalayan Railways has planned to revive a 2km stretch of the ropeway and convert it into a passenger conveyance. RITES, a central government enterprise, has already conducted a feasibility study and given its nod for the revival of the ropeway. “The survey by the RITES is over and we have sent a proposal to the Railway Board for the revival of the service. The total cost of the project has been pegged at Rs 18 crore,” said Partha Pratim Roy, the director of the DHR. The nod is considered to be a mere formality as the resumption of the service had been announced by Mamata Banerjee when she was the railway minister. The 5km ropeway service between Singamari and Vah-Tukvar resumed yesterday after a gap of eight years. The rides had been suspended on October 19, 2003, when four passengers died after three cars jumped the cable and fell 50 feet below. Sources said the Darjeeling hills could have more cable car services soon. “Initial works have started to launch ropeways between Dello and Relli in Kalimpong and between Kurseong and Rohini,” said a source. DHR officials said it was likely to take “some time” before the defunct ropeway became operational as procedures like floating of tenders could be completed only after the sanction came from the Railway Board. The ropeway between Darjeeling and Bijanbari downhill was operated without cable cars as it transported goods. It started at Judge Bazar in Darjeeling and ended at Bijanbari after crossing Happy Valley, Singtom and Chungthung tea gardens. “I remember that the service was functional till 1986. The ropeway was much sought after by people to ferry goods between Darjeeling and Bijanbari,” said Rabin Rai, a resident of Singtom tea garden. However, Roy said: “We only plan a truncated passenger service between Singtom and Chungthung tea gardens (about 2.5km downhill).” The DHR believes there would be no takers for the goods service any more as communication between Darjeeling and Bijanbari has improved. “It would be difficult to revive the entire ropeway as high tension lines have come up along the route,” said Roy. The re-launch of the entire service has become impossible also because of rampant encroachments along the route.(Telegraph)