पोखराको केवलकार आयोजनाविरुद्ध विकासविरोधिहरूको चलखेल

पोखराको लेकसाइडस्थित बसुन्धरा पार्कदेखि फेवाताल, रानीवन हुँदै पुम्दीभुम्दीस्थित डाँडामा रहेको शान्ति स्तुपसम्म पुग्ने केबलकार निर्माणको योजनामाथि विकासविरोधी तत्त्वको आँखा लागेको बुझिएको छ । प्राप्त समाचारअनुसार उक्त केबलकार निर्माणको लागि भौतिक पूर्वाधार तथा यातायात विकास मन्त्रालयले पर्यटन पूर्वाधार परियोजना निर्माण, सञ्चालन र हस्तान्तरण प्रणालीअन्तर्गत आशयपत्र मागेको थियो । त्यसका लागि आवेदन दिएकाहरूमध्ये आर्थिक र प्राविधिक प्रस्तावसमेतका आधारमा चितवनको मनकामना दर्शन प्रा.लि. छनोट भएको थियो । तर, प्रक्रिया नपुर्‍याई सो कार्य गरेको भन्दै सर्वोच्चमा रिट परेकोमा १९ महिनापछि सर्वोच्चले केबलकार निर्माण गर्न बाटो खुला गरिदियो । लगत्तै मन्त्रालयले विस्तृत परियोजना प्रतिवेदन (डीपीआर) तयार गर्न मनकामना दर्शन प्रालिसँग सम्झौता पनि गर्‍यो । यसपछि केबलकार निर्माणमा पायोनियरको चिनारी बनाइसकेको उक्त कम्पनीलाई अवरोध पुर्‍याएर योजना नै हत्याउने दूराशयी चलखेल एमालेका कतिपय स्थानीय नेता–कार्यकर्तालगायतले सुरु गरेको केबलकार निर्माणको पक्षमा रहेका स्थानीयवासीको कथन छ ।
बताइएअनुसार दर्ता नै नभएको कथित ‘बसुन्धरा पार्क बचाउ समिति’मार्फत विकासविरोधीहरूले चलखेल र अवरोध सुरु गरेका छन् । सो समितिमा सचिव रहेकी भगवती पहारीसमेतले सर्वोच्चमा रिट दायर गरेको र आफूलाई पर्यटन व्यवसायी भनी चिनाउने वासु त्रिपाठीलगायतका केही व्यक्ति हात धोएर पछिलाग्नुको बेग्लै रहस्य रहेको बुझिएको छ । यसरी काम सुरु हुनै लाग्दा अदालतमा रिट हाल्नु र सरोकार नै नभएको संसदीय समितिले सम्बन्धित निकायहरूलाई झुटो विवरण दिई भ्रमित बनाएर केबलकार निर्माण योजनामा बाधा पार्न खोज्नुले सबै चलखेल प्रायोजित तवरमा निहित स्वार्थवश भएको देखिएको छ ।
यसरी, सर्वोच्च अदालतमा विचारधीन मुद्दाको किनारा नलाग्दै आफ्नो क्षेत्राधिकार बाहिर गई संसद्को समितिले केबुल निर्माणका लागि एउटा कम्पनीलाई दिएको अनुमति रद्द गर्न निर्देशन दिएर देशवासीलाई चकित पारेको मात्र नभई विकासविरोधी कित्तामा समेत आफूलाई उभ्याएको छ । एमाओवादीका प्रभु साह नामक सांसद सभापति रहेको अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय सम्बन्ध तथा श्रम समितिले आफ्नो कार्यक्षेत्रभन्दा बाहिर गएर निर्णय लिँदै निर्देशन दिनु आफैँमा रहस्यको विषय बन्न पुगेको हो । नेपालको अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय सम्बन्ध तथा वैदेशिक रोजगारसँग जोडिएका विषयमा सरकारलाई सचेत गराउन व्यवस्थापिका–संसद्मा खडा गरिएको सो समितिले अदालतमा विचाराधीन विषयमा निर्णय लिएर आफूलाई हास्यास्पद त तुल्याएको छ नै, अन्तरिम संविधान–२०६३ कै बर्खिलाप पनि उभिन पुगेको छ । स्मरणीय छ, नेपालको अन्तरिम संविधान, २०६३ मा ‘नेपालको कुनै अदालतमा विचाराधीन रहेको कुनै मुद्दा सम्बन्धमा तथा न्यायाधीशले कर्तव्य पालनको सिलसिलामा गरेको न्यायिक कार्यको सम्बन्धमा सदनमा छलफल गर्न पाइने छैन’ भनी स्पष्ट व्यवस्था गरेको छ ।
तर, पर्यटकीय नगरी पोखराको विकास आयोजना खारेज गर्न सांसद रवीन्द्र अधिकारीलगायत एमालेका केही स्थानीय नेताहरू निकै अघिदेखि नै सक्रिय रहेकोमा आयोजना खारेज नै गर्नुपर्ने निर्णय सुनाएर संसदीय समिति र प्रभु साहले पोखराको पर्यटकीय विकासमा अवरोध पैदा गर्ने गम्भीर प्रयास गरेका छन् । यस घटनाका कारण पोखरा लगानीमैत्री थलो नभएको भन्ने नराम्रो प्रचार हुनुका साथै निजीक्षेत्र पनि निरुत्साहित हुने अवस्था पैदा भएको छ । विकास निर्माणकार्यमा ढिलाइ भई लागत बढ्ने र समृद्धिका ढोका बन्द हुने यसप्रकारका क्रियाकलापलाई निरुत्साहित गर्न व्यवस्थापिका–संसद्ले गम्भीर रूपमा सोच्नु आवश्यक रहेको सचेत तप्काको धारणा छ ।

Govt’s attention drawn towards cable car project

The Public Accounts Committee under the Legislature-Parliament has drawn the attention of the authority concerned not to allow construction of a cable car project in Basundhara Park near Lakeside in Pokhara.
The proposed Rs 1.3 billion Cable Car Project was going to be undertaken by the Manakamana Cable Car Pvt Ltd across the 108 ropanis of public land in Basundhara Park in Pokhara.
In on Friday’s meeting of the PAC, lawmakers Rabindra Adhikari, Sita Giri Oli and Kumar Khadka from Kaski district drew the attention of the committee not to allow furthering the 1.3 kilometres long Cable Car Project in light of misuse of the public land for commercial purpose.
The Ministry for Physical Infrastructure and Transport had granted permission to the Pokhara Valley City Development Committee to allow the land for the Manakamana Cable Car Pvt Ltd for the same.
Earlier, the locals in the Lakeside area criticised the idea of running a cable car on public land of the park although it was proposed to be developed on build-own-operate-transfer model under which the ownership of the company would be handed over to the government after 20 years.
PAC Chairperson Janardan Sharma shared the committee would make decisions on the same as it had directed the MoPIT to look into the matter and inform the committee.

Source: The Himalayan Times.

Chandragiri cable car to be launched next year

Top station of Chandragiri Cable Car Project that is under construction in Kathmandu Valley, on Saturday.
Top station of Chandragiri Cable Car Project that is und
A cable car service is being rolled out in Kathmandu Valley for the very first time by the beginning of 2016, as the developer has said that they have completed 75 per cent of the works of Chandragiri Cable Car Project (CCCP). The project is being developed by a privately-owned company — Kathmandu Fun Park Ltd.
Since the construction of the project commenced 15 months ago, the developer has completed building the top station, bottom station and foundations of the towers so far. The site development and tower and cable erection are projected to take another three months, as per Dilip Shrestha, project manager of CCCP.
Bottom station of Chandragiri Cable Car Project that is under construction in Kathmandu Valley, on Saturday. Courtesy: Kathmandu Fun Park Ltd
Bottom station of Chandragiri Cable Car Project that is under construction in Kathmandu Valley, on Saturday. Courtesy: Kathmandu Fun Park Ltd
“Earlier, we had planned to commence operation by October this year, but the launch date had to be postponed due to the devastating earthquake in April and subsequent powerful aftershocks,” Shrestha explained, adding the company is planning to test the operation by October but the commercial operation will only begin by January 2016.
CCCP was forced to halt construction work for a month after the devastating earthquake of April 25.
Altogether 11 towers will be erected for the 2.5 kilometre-long cable car from Godam (Thankot) to Chandragiri hill. The cable car has a capacity to serve 1,000 people in one hour and will be operated for at least 12 hours a day.
More interestingly, the distance between tower seven to eight is about 900 metres, which is one of the longest distances between towers and will be a thrilling experience for cable car riders.
“The foundations of all 11 towers have been laid and construction materials for the towers have also been delivered by helicopters in different tower stations, where the track has not been developed,” said Shrestha.
As per him, the project has also taken bio-engineering techniques into consideration for eco-friendly development. Altogether 300 labourers are involved in the project.
The total project cost of the CCCP is expected to hover around Rs 3.36 billion, which is financed by 50 per cent debt and 50 per cent equity investment. The project is financed by a consortium of seven commercial banks of the country.
The bottom station is being developed on 120 ropanis of property owned by Kathmandu Fun Park Ltd at Godam of Thankot. The 700 ropanis of land for the top station that lies on top of the Chandragiri hill has been taken on a 40-year lease from the government. The developer also plans to construct a five-star hotel, view tower, 4D theatre, zip flyer and botanical garden, among others in the area to lure tourists.
The top and bottom stations of the cable car will provide full facilities, like food court, restaurant and bar, branded shops, banking services and parking. In addition, a fun park is also scheduled to be developed in the bottom station.
The pre-feasibility study of the project was done six years back and the government had invited the private sector to develop the project. The developer had signed the agreement with the Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation to lease the land at Chandragiri hill three years back. CCCP is the second cable car project in the country after Manakamana Darshan Ltd’s Manakamana Cable Car.

Source: The Himalayan Times.

kushma ma jharera

कुस्मा मा झरेर
बलेवा मा लैजान्छु मायालाई केबलकार चडेर
.....
कुस्मा मा झरेर
जान्छु मनि बलेवा घुम्नलाई केबलकार चडेर...

ChandraGiri cable car Kathmandu, Nepal: 3D video and sketch [चन्द्रागिरी...

PAC concerned over Pokhara cable car project

KATHMANDU: The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) under the Legislature-Parliament has drawn attention of the concerned authority not to allow construction of a cable car project in Basundhara Park, Lakeside in Pokhara.

The proposed Rs 1.3-billion cable car project was going to be undertaken by the Manakamana Cable Car Pvt Ltd across the 108 ropani public land in Basundhara Park of the Lake City.

In today’s meeting of the PAC, various lawmakers from Kaski district including Rabindra Adhikari, Sita Giri Oli and Kumar Khadka have drawn the attention of Committee not to allow forwarding the 1.3-kilometre cable car project in light of accusations that the project is misusing the public land for a commercial purpose.

The Ministry for Physical Infrastructure and Transport (MoPIT) had granted permission to the Pokhara Valley City Development Committee to allow the land for the Manakamana Cable Car Pvt Ltd for the same.

Earlier, the locals in the area were reported to have criticised the idea of running a cable car in the public land although it was proposed to be developed as per the build-own-operate-transfer (BOOT) model and the ownership of the company to be handed to the government after 20 years.

The PAC Chairperson Janardan Sharma shared that the Committee will make decisions on the same after examining the issue as it had directed the MoPIT to look into the matter and inform the Committee. “The action will be taken accordingly,” he added.

Chandragiri cable car to be launched next year

Top station of Chandragiri Cable Car Project that is und

A cable car service is being rolled out in Kathmandu Valley for the very first time by the beginning of 2016, as the developer has said that they have completed 75 per cent of the works of Chandragiri Cable Car Project (CCCP). The project is being developed by a privately-owned company — Kathmandu Fun Park Ltd.

Since the construction of the project commenced 15 months ago, the developer has completed building the top station, bottom station and foundations of the towers so far. The site development and tower and cable erection are projected to take another three months, as per Dilip Shrestha, project manager of CCCP.

Bottom station of Chandragiri Cable Car Project that is under construction in Kathmandu Valley, on Saturday. Courtesy: Kathmandu Fun Park Ltd

“Earlier, we had planned to commence operation by October this year, but the launch date had to be postponed due to the devastating earthquake in April and subsequent powerful aftershocks,” Shrestha explained, adding the company is planning to test the operation by October but the commercial operation will only begin by January 2016.

CCCP was forced to halt construction work for a month after the devastating earthquake of April 25.

Altogether 11 towers will be erected for the 2.5 kilometre-long cable car from Godam (Thankot) to Chandragiri hill. The cable car has a capacity to serve 1,000 people in one hour and will be operated for at least 12 hours a day.

More interestingly, the distance between tower seven to eight is about 900 metres, which is one of the longest distances between towers and will be a thrilling experience for cable car riders.

“The foundations of all 11 towers have been laid and construction materials for the towers have also been delivered by helicopters in different tower stations, where the track has not been developed,” said Shrestha.

As per him, the project has also taken bio-engineering techniques into consideration for eco-friendly development. Altogether 300 labourers are involved in the project.

The total project cost of the CCCP is expected to hover around Rs 3.36 billion, which is financed by 50 per cent debt and 50 per cent equity investment. The project is financed by a consortium of seven commercial banks of the country.

The bottom station is being developed on 120 ropanis of property owned by Kathmandu Fun Park Ltd at Godam of Thankot. The 700 ropanis of land for the top station that lies on top of the Chandragiri hill has been taken on a 40-year lease from the government. The developer also plans to construct a five-star hotel, view tower, 4D theatre, zip flyer and botanical garden, among others in the area to lure tourists.

The top and bottom stations of the cable car will provide full facilities, like food court, restaurant and bar, branded shops, banking services and parking. In addition, a fun park is also scheduled to be developed in the bottom station.

The pre-feasibility study of the project was done six years back and the government had invited the private sector to develop the project. The developer had signed the agreement with the Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation to lease the land at Chandragiri hill three years back. CCCP is the second cable car project in the country after Manakamana Darshan Ltd’s Manakamana Cable Car.

---

Source: The Himalayan Times.

Govt’s attention drawn towards cable car project

The Public Accounts Committee under the Legislature-Parliament has drawn the attention of the authority concerned not to allow construction of a cable car project in Basundhara Park near Lakeside in Pokhara.

The proposed Rs 1.3 billion Cable Car Project was going to be undertaken by the Manakamana Cable Car Pvt Ltd across the 108 ropanis of public land in Basundhara Park in Pokhara.

In on Friday’s meeting of the PAC, lawmakers Rabindra Adhikari, Sita Giri Oli and Kumar Khadka from Kaski district drew the attention of the committee not to allow furthering the 1.3 kilometres long Cable Car Project in light of misuse of the public land for commercial purpose.

The Ministry for Physical Infrastructure and Transport had granted permission to the Pokhara Valley City Development Committee to allow the land for the Manakamana Cable Car Pvt Ltd for the same.

Earlier, the locals in the Lakeside area criticised the idea of running a cable car on public land of the park although it was proposed to be developed on build-own-operate-transfer model under which the ownership of the company would be handed over to the government after 20 years.

PAC Chairperson Janardan Sharma shared the committee would make decisions on the same as it had directed the MoPIT to look into the matter and inform the committee.

---

Source: The Himalayan Times.

निर्माणको अन्तिम चरणमा चन्द्रागिरि केबलकार

काठमाडौं फनपार्क प्रालिले थानकोट–चन्द्रागिरि केबलकारको निर्माणकार्य तीव्र रूपमा गरिरहेको छ । अहिले केबलकारको बटम र टप स्टेसनमा धमाधम काम भइरहेको कम्पनीले जनाएको छ । त्यसैगरी केबलकार टावरको जग हाल्ने काम पनि तीव्र रूपमा भइरहेको छ ।
कम्पनीका अध्यक्ष चन्द्रप्रसाद ढकालले भूकम्पले गर्दा निर्माण केही ढिलाइ भएको बताए । ‘असारभित्रै व्यावसायिक रूपमा सञ्चालन गर्ने लक्ष्य राखी काम भइरहेको थियो, तर भूकम्प र ढुंगागिट्टीलगायतका निर्माण सामग्रीको अभावमा निर्माण प्रभावित भयो,’ आइएमई समूहका अध्यक्षसमेत रहेका ढकालले भने, ‘जनवरीबाट जुनसुकै हालतमा पनि व्यावसायिक सञ्चालन सुरु गर्ने गरी काम भइरहेको छ ।’
प्रालिका अनुसार बटम स्टेसनमा भौतिक संरचनाको काम सकिएको छ । बटम स्टेसनको भवनमा केबलकारको उपकरण जोड्ने काम भइरहेको छ । अध्यक्ष ढकालले तीन महिनामा केबलकारको उपकरण जडान भइसक्ने बताए । टप तथा बटम स्टेसन, टावर जडान, मन्दिर तथा होटल निर्माणमा करिब तीन सय मजदुर परिचालन गरिएको छ ।
कम्पनीले केबलकार स्टेसन थानकोटमा सबै उमेरसमूहका लागि उपयुक्त हुने मनोरञ्जन पार्क, चन्द्रागिरिमा अत्याधुनिक होटल तथा रिसोर्ट, मन्दिर र भ्युटावर निर्माण गरिरहेको हो । त्यसैगरी कम्पनीले चन्द्रागिरि डाँडामा करिब १० करोड रुपैयाँको लगानीमा इच्छापुरेश्वर महादेवको मन्दिर पनि बनाउँदै छ । ‘चीन र भारतका केही भूभागसमेत देखिने गरी भ्युटावरको पनि निर्माण भइरहेको छ,’ कम्पनीका प्रबन्ध निर्देशक अम्बिकाप्रसाद पौडेलले भने, ‘आकाश खुलेका वेला यहाँबाट हिमालदेखि तराईसम्म र काठमाडौं उपत्यकाका मनोरम दृश्यसमेत अवलोकन गर्न सकिन्छ ।’
पौडेलका अनुसार अस्ट्रियाको डुपल मेयर कम्पनीबाट केबलकार, लठ्ठालगायत सबै उपकरण आइसकेका छन् । थानकोटबाट केबलकार चढेर गएपछि चन्द्रागिरि डाँडामा पुग्ने यात्रीले सबैभन्दा पहिले इच्छापुरेश्वर महादेवको दर्शन गर्न पाउनेछन् । सँगैको भ्यु–टावरबाट तीन सय ६० डिग्रीसम्म देखिने हिमाल र उपत्यकाले मनै रोमाञ्चित बनाउनेछ । महालंगुर हिमशृंखलादेखि अन्नपू्र्ण हिमशृंखालसम्म हेर्दै रिसोर्टमा बसेर मज्जा लिन सक्नेछन् । आकाश खुलेका वेला यहाँबाट हिमालदेखि तराईसम्म देखिन्छ ।
त्यसैगरी फुडस्टल र रेस्टुराँ पनि रहनेछ । त्यति मात्रै होइन, समुद्री सतहबाट करिब २५ सय ४० मिटर उचाइमा बसेर फोरडी थिएटरमा फिल्मको मज्जासमेत लिन सकिने कम्पनीले जनाएको छ । पृथ्वीनारायण शाहले नेपाल एकीकरण गर्नुपहिले इच्छापुरेश्वर महादेवको दर्शन गरी काठमाडौं उपत्यकामा विजयी गरेको किंवदन्तीअनुसार उक्त ठाउँमा पशुपतिनाथको जस्तै झल्को दिने गरी मन्दिर बनाइएको पौडेलले बताए । चन्द्रागिरि डाँडामा सय रुमको तीनतारे सुविधासहितको रिसोर्ट पनि धमाधम बनिरहेको छ ।
११ वटा पोल भएर थानकोटबाट चन्द्रागिरि पुग्ने केबलकारको लम्बाइ २.४ किलोमिटर छ । केबलकारबाट आठ मिनेटमा चन्द्रागिरि पुग्न सकिनेछ । प्रतिघन्टा एक हजार यात्रु क्षमतासहित केबलकारको पूर्वाधार जडान भइरहेको छ । बटम स्टेसनमा दुई सय कार, चार सय मोटरसाइकल र सयवटा बस पार्किङ गर्न मिल्ने गरी पार्किङस्थल बनाइएको छ । चन्द्रागिरि डाँडो र त्यस तलको २० हेक्टर जमिन कम्पनीले ४० वर्षका लागि सरकारसँग लिजमा लिएको हो । सम्झौतामा अर्को ४० वर्षका लागि नवीकरण गर्न सकिने व्यवस्था छ ।
केबलकारमा आइएमई समूह, भाटभटेनी, अम्बिकाप्रसाद पौडेल र बेलायतमा बस्दै आएका नेपाली व्यवसायीहरू उत्तम नेपाल, नवराज नेपाल र उमा जिसीले लगानी गरेका हुन् । सिटिजन्स बैंक इन्टरनेसनलको नेतृत्वमा नेपाल इन्भेस्टमेन्ट, ग्रान्ड, सिद्धार्थ र प्रभु विकास बैंकले सहवित्तीयकरणमा ऋण प्रवाह गरेका छन् ।

केबलकारको निर्माण अहिले कुन चरणमा पुगेको छ ?
निर्माण सुरु भएको करिब १५ महिना भयो । केबलकार निर्माण तीव्र रूपमा भइरहेको छ । अबको तीन महिनाभित्र केबलकार जडान सकिन्छ । ढिलोमा पनि नयाँ वर्ष जनवरी (पुस)को दोस्रो हप्ताबाट व्यावसायिक रूपमा सञ्चालन गर्ने गरी काम गरिरहेका छौँ । असारबाट सञ्चालन गर्ने लक्ष्य राखेका थियौँ, तर भूकम्प र ढुंगागिट्टीलगायतका निर्माण सामग्रीको अभावले गर्दा निर्माण अवधि केही लम्बिएको हो । तर, जनुसकै हालतमा पनि जनवरीबाट व्यावसायिक सञ्चालन गर्ने गरी काम भइरहेको छ ।
केबल निर्माणका लागि चन्द्रागिरि नै किन छनोट गर्नुभयो ?
चन्द्रागिरि ऐतिहासिक महत्त्व बोकेको ठाउँ हो । काठमाडौं उपत्यकाबाट नजिक र ऐतिहासिक महत्त्व बोकेको ठाउँ भएकाले चन्द्रागिरिलाई छनोट गरेका हौँ । नेपाल एकीकरणका क्रममा पृथ्वीनारायण शाहले चन्द्रागिरिबाट काठमाडौं उपत्यका हेरेको र काठमाडौं उपत्यकाको उर्वराभूमि देखेपछि उपत्यकामा आक्रमण गरेको इतिहासमा उल्लेख छ । यो ठाउँ काठमाडौं उपत्यकाबाट नजिकै रहेको छ । मौसम सफा भएका वेला भारत र चीनका केही भूभागको दृश्यावलोकनसमेत गर्न सकिन्छ ।
धेरै विकास परियोजना स्थानीय बासिन्दाको अवरोधले निर्माण प्रभावित हुने गरेको छ, तपाईंहरूको परियोजनामा त्यस्तो समस्या छ कि छैन ?
यत्रो ठूलो परियोजना कार्यान्वयनमा लैजाँदा केही न केही समस्या त आइहाल्छ । तर, केबलकार निर्माणमा स्थानीय बासिन्दाले ठूलो सहयोग गरेका छन् । अवरोध गर्नेभन्दा उनीहरूको भूमिका सहयोगी देखिएको छ । स्थानीय राजनीतिक दल, नागरिक समाज, सरकारी तहसहित सबैबाट निर्माणमा सहयोग पाएका छौँ ।
तपाईंहरूले महत्त्वकांक्षी परियोजना अगाडि बढाउनुभएको छ, निर्माण सम्पन्न भएपछि कस्तो अपेक्षा राख्नुभएको छ ?
नेपालको निजी क्षेत्रको लगानीमा निर्माण भइरहेका ठूला परियोजनामध्ये यो पनि एक हो । यसमा करिब सवा तीन अर्ब रुपैयाँ लगानी गर्दै छौँ । चन्द्रागिरिलाई आन्तरिक र बाह्य पर्यटकका लागि उत्कृष्ट गन्तव्य बनाउँदै छौँ । विदेशी पर्यटकलाई चन्द्रागिरिको भ्रमण गराएर एक दिनको बसाइ लम्ब्याउन सकियो भने पनि यसले पर्यटन उद्योग र समग्रमा नेपालको अर्थतन्त्रमा ठूलो योगदान पुर्‍याउँछ भन्ने लाग्छ ।

प्रस्तुति : सचेन गौतम/अभियान

चन्द्रागिरि केबलकार जनवरीदेखि सञ्चालन हुने

अङ्ग्रेजी नयाँ वर्षदेखि राजधानीमै केबलकार सञ्चालन हुने भएको छ । काठमाडौंको थानकोट (गोदामचौर) देखि चन्द्रागिरि जोड्ने ‘चन्द्रागिरि केबलकार आयोजना’ जनवरीदेखि व्यावसायिक रूपमा सञ्चालनमा ल्याउने गरी काम भइरहेको छ । फनपार्क प्रालिले निर्माण गरिरहेको उक्त केबलकार यसअघि आगामी दशैंदेखि नै व्यावसायिक रूपमा सञ्चालनमा ल्याउने योजना थियो । तर, भूकम्पका कारण केबलकारको व्यावसायिक सञ्चालनको समय सार्नुपरेको आयोजनाका लगानीकर्ता तथा आईएमई समूहका अध्यक्ष चन्द्र ढकालले जानकारी दिए ।

साढे दुई किलोमिटर लामो सो केबलकारको ‘बटम’ र ‘टप स्टेशन’सँगै टावर निर्माणको काम धमाधम भइरहेको छ । कुल ११ ओटा टावर जडान हुने केबलकारका लागि यसैसाता नेपाली सेनाको हेलिकोप्टरमार्फत ‘टावर इक्वीपमेण्ट’ सम्बन्धित स्थानमा झारिएको आयोजनाका प्रबन्धक दिलीप श्रेष्ठले जानकारी दिए । आगामी ३ महीनाभित्र केबलकार आयोजनाका अधिकांश काम सकिने र प्राकृतिक तथा मानवीय अवरोध नआए अङ्ग्रेजी नयाँ वर्षदेखि व्यावसायिक रूपमा केबलकार सञ्चालनमा आइसक्ने श्रेष्ठको भनाइ छ ।

केबलकार प्रतिघण्टा १ हजार यात्रुलाई चन्द्रागिरि पुर्‍याउन सक्ने क्षमताको हुने बताइएको छ । आयोजनाका अनुसार ३८ ओटा केबलकारले यात्रु ओसार्नेछन् । एउटा केबलकारमा ८ जना यात्रु अटाउँछन् । यसअघि सञ्चालन हुँदै आएको गोरखाको मनकामना केबलकारको एउटा कारको क्षमता भने ६ जना यात्रु रहेको छ । केबलकारका लागि आवश्यक ‘इक्वीपमेण्ट’ अष्ट्रिया तथा सिङ्गापुरबाट आयात गरिएको आयोजनाले जानकारी दिएको छ ।

थानकोटबाट केबलकारमा ८ मिनेटमै चन्द्रागिरि डाँडामा पुगिनेछ । सो स्थानमा केबलकारसहित एकसाथ धेरै ‘प्रडक्ट’मा काम भइरहेको छ । चन्द्रागिरि डाँडाको सबैभन्दा माथिल्लो बिन्दु (२ हजार ४ सय ७५ मिटर)मा अवस्थित ‘इच्छापुरेश्वरम् महादेव मन्दिर’ यहाँको सबैभन्दा आकर्षणका रूपमा रहनेछ । पशुपतिनाथको झल्को दिनेगरी भव्य मन्दिर निर्माणका लागि मात्र १० करोड रुपैयाँ लगानी गरिने फनपार्क प्रालिका प्रबन्ध निर्देशक अम्बिकाप्रसाद पौडेलले जानकारी दिए । निर्माण पूरा भइसकेपछि रातको समयमा सो मन्दिर काठमाडौंबाटसमेत अवलोकन गर्न सकिने गरी भव्य सजावट गर्ने आयोजनाले बताएको छ ।

आयोजनाअन्तर्गत चन्द्रागिरि डाँडामा पाँचतारे स्तरको ‘लक्जरी रिसोर्ट’, ‘मनोरञ्जन पार्क’, ‘बोटानिकल गार्डेन’, ‘फोरडी थिएटर’, ‘मल्टिप्रपोज स्टेज’, ‘भ्यूटावर’, ‘गोल्फकोर्ट’, ‘रिभल्विङ रेष्टुराँ’, ‘जीप फ्लायर’जस्ता संरचना निर्माण हुँदै छन् । त्यसमध्ये रेष्टुराँ, भ्यूटावर, फोरडी थिएटर, स्टेजजस्ता संरचना निर्माणको काम भइरहेको छ । थिएटरमा विशेषगरी चन्द्रागिरि क्षेत्रमा पाइने वनस्पति र जीवजन्तुको जानकारी दिने भिडियोहरू प्रदर्शन गरिनेछ । जीव र वनस्पति विज्ञानका विद्यार्थी तथा जिज्ञासुलाई अधिकतम जानकारी दिने उद्देश्यले यस प्रकारका भिडियो देखाउने योजना रहेको पौडेलले बताए ।

चन्द्रागिरि डाँडोसहित त्यस वरपरका २० हेक्टर जमीन कम्पनीले ४० वर्षका लागि सरकारसँग लिजमा लिएको छ । सो सम्झौता थप ४० वर्षका लागि नवीकरण गर्न सकिने व्यवस्था रहेको बताइएको छ । केबलकारको ‘बटम स्टेशन’मा कम्पनीले ‘मल्टिपर्जाेज’ भवन निर्माण गरिरहेको छ, जहाँ बुटिक पसल, क्याफे, पूmडकोर्टजस्ता सुविधा उपलब्ध हुनेछन् । १ सय रोपनी जग्गामा फैलिएको ‘बटम स्टेशन’मा २ सयभन्दा बढी कार, ४ सय मोटरसाइकल र १ सय बस एकसाथ पार्किङ गर्न मिल्ने गरी संरचना निर्माण भइरहेको छ । परियोजना निर्माणका लागि अहिले ३ सयभन्दा बढी कामदार खटिएका छन् ।

आयोजनाले प्रभावित क्षेत्रका लागि सामाजिक उत्तरदायित्वअन्तर्गत रोजगारीमा प्राथमिकता दिने योजना बनाएको छ । साथै, सामुदायिक वनको रक्षाको जिम्मेवारीसमेत पाएको आयोजनाले भूकम्पपछि त्यस वरपरमा भत्किएका सामुदायिक विद्यालयका लागि नगद सहयोगसमेत गरेको छ ।

पूरै काठमाडौं उपत्यका प्रत्यक्ष अवलोकन गर्न सकिने चन्द्रागिरि डाँडाबाट विभिन्न हिमालको दृश्यावलोकन गर्न सकिन्छ । उक्त डाँडाबाट नेपालको तराईसहित भारतका कतिपय क्षेत्रसमेत देखिने गरेको बताइन्छ । ऐतिहासिक क्षेत्रमा ठूलो आयोजना कार्यान्वयन गर्न निकै चुनौतीको सामना गर्नुपरेको आयोजनाका सञ्चालकहरू बताउँछन् । पृथ्वीनारायण शाहले चन्द्रागिरि डाँडामा अवस्थित इच्छापुरेश्वरम् महादेवको मन्दिर दर्शन गरेपछि उपत्यकामा आक्रमण गरेको र विजय प्राप्त गरेको किंवदन्ती छ । ऐतिहासिक महत्त्वको यस क्षेत्रलाई आन्तरिक तथा बाह्य पर्यटकको आकर्षकस्थल बनाउन आयोजना सफल हुने अपेक्षा लगानीकर्ताहरूको छ ।

स्रोत: अभियान

Two new cable car lines to be built in Pokhara

POKHARA, Nepal – Two new cable car lines are scheduled to be built in Pokhara. The government has given clearance to Annapurna Cable Car to develop a cable car system linking Sedibagar at the north of Phewa Lake with Sarangkot.
Annapurna Cable Car said that that it had completed all the preparations to construct the cable car line, adding that the foundation stone of the project would be laid this month.
Similarly, Manakamana Darshan is set to start the construction of a cable car from Basundhara Park at Lakeside to the World Peace Pagoda at Pumdibhumdi. It recently obtained the go-ahead from the government. The company and the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport signed an agreement on April 1 to build the project. The 1.5-km aerial tramway is estimated to cost more than Rs1.3 billion excluding land acquisition. The signing of the construction contract has got locals and entrepreneurs excited.
Meanwhile, Tirtha Raj Tripathi, director of the Annapurna Cable Car said that they have already got clearance from the Cabinet for licensing, industry registration and use right of the forest area.
“We have completed detailed feasibility and engineering studies, and the construction work will start soon,” he said. “We have planned to bring the cable car system into operation within the next one and a half years to two years,” said Tripathi.

The company will be investing Rs800 million to build the 2.2-km cable car line. Entrepreneurs from Pokhara own 55 percent of the company while a Japanese company owns 30 percent, and the rest of the shares are owned by a Nepali citizen of Japanese origin.
Annapurna Cable Car also plans to erect a large temple of Lord Shiva and a hotel in Sarangkot besides developing a picnic spot. “People will enjoy travelling on the cable car as they can enjoy views of the lake and the Himalaya at the same time,” said Tripathi. “It will contribute to tourism in Pokhara .”
Meanwhile, president of the Pokhara Tourism Council Som Thapa said that the cable car line would help boost tourism in the renowned tourism destination further. “The plan should be devised in such a way that local tourists too benefit from it besides foreign visitors,” he added.
Lakeside locals oppose project
A few locals from Lakeside have protested against the construction of a cable car line connecting Basundhara Park with the World Peace Pagoda due to disagreements over land acquisition. However, locals from Pumdibhumdi have said that no obstructions should be placed before the project under any pretext.
The land originally acquired by the Pokhara Town Development Plan to establish a park was handed over to the cable car project by the Town Development Committee of Pokhara Sub-Metropolitan City on July 1, 2014.
“As the construction of the cable car will help to develop Pumdibhumdi besides promoting tourism in Pokhara , there should not be any obstruction against the project,” said a local Raju Chhetri. “We will mount pressure on the government to ensure that the project is completed without hindrance.”

EKANTIPUR.COM

New cable car line to link Fewa Lake with Sarangkot

POKHARA, April 15: Annapurna Cable Car Company (ACCC) is starting construction works on a cable car service that links Fewa Lake to Sarangkot within few days.

ACCC officials said the new cable car will start operation within one and half years. “We will start construction work after laying foundation stone after two weeks,” Tirtha Tripathi director of ACCC, told Republica. “Our cable car service, which will be 2.3 kilometers long, will link Sarangkot with Sedi Bagar which lies on the banks of Fewa Lake.”

Tripathi said the cable car service will promote tourism in Pokhara in general and Sarangkot in particular.

The project is estimated to cost Rs 800 million.

This is the second cable car project in Pokhara. Few weeks ago, the government allowed developers to prepare detailed project report (DPR) of a cable car line between Basundhara Park lying on the banks of Fewa Lake and World Peace Stupa of Pumdi Bhumdi VDC.

“Despite having immense potentials, Sarangkot is not getting sufficient number of tourists. The cable car service is expected to bring more tourists to this historical fort,” said Tripathi.

Chitwan Co-E Company has bagged contract for construction works on the cable car project. The company signed contract agreement with ACCC on Sunday.

Interestingly, Chitwan Co-E is one of the promoters of the cable car project linking Basundhara Park with World Peace Stupa.

Entrepreneur Kalu Gurung and a Japanese investor are the promoters of ACCC.

“We have already acquired required land for the project. We have taken 23 ropani of land on lease from the government,” said Tripathi. “We are erecting 13 poles and installing eight-seat cabins.”

Rajesh Babu Shrestha, director of Chitwan Co-E Company, said the cable car service will be constructed in Engineering Procurement Construction (EPC) model. “We plan to complete all the works within 15 months,” said Shrestha. “As per the project design, this cable car line can serve 500 passengers in an hour.”

Som Thapa, president of Pokhara Tourism Council (PTC), said cable car services will help to bring more tourists to Pokhara. “It is good two know that two cable car projects are being implemented simultaneously,” he said, adding, “Cable car service will give a momentum to tourism industry of Pokhara.”

Tourism entrepreneurs say more than 90 percent of tourists visiting Pokhara will go to Sarangkot to watch sunrise once the cable car service starts operation.

Source: myrepublica

Breaking new ground in Mexico

Reaching new heights: Leading-edge construction techniques — including the use of this gondola to transport construction materials up the side of a mountain — are used to build pipelines in Mexico’s most rugged terrain.

While the word gondola conjures images of skier-filled cable cars ascending breathtaking slopes, in the spectacular terrain along TransCanada’s Tamazunchale Extension Pipeline Project, this is not the case. Here, a state-of-the art construction gondola transports tons of steel pipe and construction materials, not people. This gondola technology is helping crews conquer the steep, difficult slope they’ve affectionately dubbed, “Waterloo”.

“It’s not an easy operation, but this is a proven technology around the world in the pipeline construction business.”
— Alejandro Iriarte, TransCanada Project Director, Pipelines, Mexico Projects
Iriarte is overseeing the Tamazunchale Extension, a 230-km (143-mile) natural gas pipeline that traverses some of Mexico’s most mountainous terrain. And this specific location along the route is particularly challenging; it’s extremely rugged and in places rises at a 50-degree angle, making traditional slope installation practices onerous and slow. To surmount the challenging terrain, the project’s engineering procurement construction contractor, GDI SICIM Pipelines (GSP), suggested the use of gondola technology.

Operators control the gondola remotely to safely hoist loads of up to eight tonnes up along the slope. Once the pipe is installed, welded and secured, the cable crane will be used for the final stage of project work, including the installation of geotechnical structures to ensure the pipeline can operate safely and reliably throughout the life of the project.

“Installation using any other option, would have taken significantly longer on this slope and with higher safety hazard exposure,” says Iriarte, who also oversaw the use of microtunneling technology through another difficult section of the Tamazunchale Extension. For that particular section, a microtunnel was suggested by GSP as a more effective option than traditional open-trench or horizontal directional drilling (HDD).

“No other technology would offer the same pipeline integrity as the microtunnel for long-term operations.”
— Andrew Jenkins, TransCanada VP, Mexico Projects
“Construction was subcontracted to I.CO.P, an Italian company experienced at building microtunnels in mountainous terrains,” Jenkins adds.

The tunnel, which runs about 672 metres (734 yards) through a mountain, was drilled using a remote-controlled tunnel-boring machine (TBM) and pipe-jacking system. The TBM advanced through the mountain using a rotating cutting head to carve an eight-foot diameter tunnel through to the other side. Behind the device, concrete liners were jacked into place to maintain the tunnel’s integrity before the pipeline was moved into place.

When the TBM broke through the designated exit location for the microtunnel in late 2013, construction workers and TransCanada employees were on site to celebrate the success of Mexico’s first pipeline microtunnel.

To help satisfy natural gas needs in Mexico, a microtunnel was drilled through a mountain using a remote-controlled, tunnel-boring machine and a rotating cutting head to carve 2.44-metre (eight-foot) diameter tunnel through to the other side.
Incredible force: To help satisfy natural gas needs in Mexico, a microtunnel was drilled through a mountain using a remote-controlled, tunnel-boring machine and a rotating cutting head to carve a 2.44-metre (eight-foot) diameter tunnel through to the other side.

“The completed microtunnel will serve to commemorate innovative engineering in areas with steep and unstable slopes, or places where the open-trench technique may be considered unsafe and impractical,” says Iriarte.

Next up for TransCanada is pipeline installation down a cliff along a rugged stretch of the Topolobampo Project, a 530-km (329-mile) natural gas pipeline currently under construction in Mexico. This installation process will utilize vertical-drilling technologies from the mining, exploration and hydroelectricity industries.

“The new technology will use a combination of directional drilling and tunneling,” says Jenkins. “What this involves is drilling a vertical pilot hole from the top of the cliff then excavating a tunnel at the bottom of the mountain to intersect the pilot hole.”

The pilot hole is expanded by pulling a reaming tool up through the vertical hole and using the tool to enlarge the pilot hole to the required diameter. Debris from the drilling process lands in the tunnel and is removed by machinery. This process eliminates the need for drilling fluid necessary in conventional HDD procedures.

While these technologies have been globally tried and tested, their integration is fairly new to TransCanada and could become a more commonly used practice for proposed pipeline projects in the rugged slopes of British Columbia, Canada, such as Coastal GasLink and Prince Rupert Gas Transmission.

“These Mexico projects have directly applicable terrain to the conditions in British Columbia,” says Jenkins, adding that pipelines are the safest way to transport the oil and gas that North America and Mexico needs to meet their daily demand for energy. “There’s no increased risk to the technology we’re using for these pipelines, but it is industry-leading stuff in North America.”

Innovation has always been key to TransCanada’s success, with a track record of more than 60 years dedicated to cutting-edge technological advancement and a history of investment into research and development.

चन्द्रागिरी केवलकार ६० प्रतिशत काम सकियो, साउनमा सक्ने गरी निर्माण

 काठमाडौं । काठमाडौंको थानकोटबाट रमणीय चन्द्रागिरी डाँडामा पुग्न केवुलकार निर्माणको काम ६० प्रतिशत पुरा भएको छ । काठमाडौं फनपार्क प्रालिले बनाइरहेको केबलकारको बटम स्टेसन र टप स्टेसनमा धमाधम काम भइहरेको छ भने बीचबीचमा पोल बनाउने काम पनि अघि बढेको छ ।

डिजाइन सेलको आर्केटेक्ट र सुपरभिजनमा निर्माण भइरहेको केबलकारको बटम स्टेशनमा भौतिक संरचनाको सबै काम सक्किएको छ । बटम स्टेसनको भवनलाई फिनिसिङ (रंगरोगन, प्लास्टर) गरेर सरसामान जोड्ने काम मात्रै बाँकी रहेको फनपार्क प्रालिका प्रबन्ध निर्देशक अम्बिकाप्रसाद पौडेलले जानकारी दिए ।

यसैगरी केवुलकारको टप स्टेसनमा साइट विकास र विस्तारको काम भइरहेको छ ।

‘टप स्टेसनमा मन्दिरको बनाउनको लागि जग हाल्ने काम सक्किसकेको छ,’ पौडेलले भने, ‘भ्यू टावरको पनि जग बसालिसकिएको छ ।’

प्रालिका अनुसार टप स्टेसनमा रिसोर्ट बनाउने काम बाहेक सबै काम साउनभित्रै सक्ने गरि धमाधम काम भइरहेको छ । यहाँ तीनसय जना कामदारले काम गरिरहेका छन‍् ।

केवलकारमा मान्छे बोक्न प्रयोग हुने गोन्डोला

अष्ट्रियाको डुपल मेयर कम्पनीबाट केवुलकार, लठ्ठा लगायत सबै उपकरण आइसकेका छन् । ‘केबलकारको लागि विदेशबाट आउनुपर्ने सबै सामान काठमाडौं झरिसकेका छन्,’ पौडेलले भने, ‘अब भौतिक सरचना बनेपछि जोड्ने काम सुरु भइहाल्छ ।’

यस्तो हुनेछ टप स्टेसन
थानकोटबाट केबलकार चढेर गएपछि त्यहाँ पुग्ने यात्रीले सबैभन्दा पहिले इच्छापुरेश्वरम महादेवको दर्शन गर्न पाउनेछन् । सँगैको भ्युटावरबाट एकसय ६० डिग्रीसम्म देखिने हिमाल र उपत्यकाले मनै रोमान्चित बनाउनेछ ।

महालंगुर हिश्रृंखलादेखि अन्नपू्र्ण हिमश्रृंखालसम्म हेर्दै रिसोर्टमा बसेर मजा लिन सक्नेछन् । आकाश खुलेका बेला यहाँबाट हिमालदेखि तरार्इसम्म देखिन्छ ।

पौडेलका अनुसार टप स्टेशनमा पुगेपछि यात्रुहरुले जिप फ्लायर, रक क्लाइम्बिङ गर्न सक्नेछन् भने बोटानिकल गार्डेन समेत घुम्न पाउनेछन् ।

यसैगरी फुडस्टल र रेष्टुरा पनि रहने छ । त्यति मात्रै होइन समुद्री सतहबाट करिव २५ सय ४० मिटर उचाइमा रहेको यो डाँडामा खुल्ने फोर डी थियटरमा बसेर फिल्मको मज्जा समेत लिन सकिन्छ ।

यस्तो बन्दैछ मन्दिर

केवुलकारसँगै चन्द्रागिरीमा काठमाडौं फनपार्क प्रालिले आकर्षक हिन्दु मन्दिर पनि निर्माण गर्नेछ । कम्पनीले चन्द्रागिरी डाँडामा इच्छापुरेश्वर महादेव मन्दिर निर्माण गर्न लागेको हो ।

पृथ्वीनारायण शाहले नेपाल एकिकरण गर्नुपहिले इच्छापुरेश्वर महादेवको दर्शन गरि काठमाडौं उपत्यकामा विजयी गरेको किंवदन्ती अनुसार यो ठाउँमा पशुपतिनाथको जस्तै झल्को दिने गरि मन्दिर बनाइएको छ ।

पौडेलले भने, हामी ठूलो मेहनतसहित मन्दिर निर्माण गरिरहेका छौं, पछिल्ला २०/३० वर्षमा यस्तो मन्दिर बनेको छैन्, उनले भने ।

सय बेडको रिसोर्ट
डाँडामा सय बेडको तीन तारे सुविधासहितको रिसोर्ट पनि बन्ने छ । रिसोर्टमा काठमाडौंबाट छुट्टि मनाउने जाने मात्र होइन कार्यालयकै काम लिएर जानेहरुले पनि चन्द्रागिरीको रमणीय वातावरणमा समय विताउन सक्नेछन् ।

थ्रीलिङ अनुभव
११ वटा पोल भएर थानकोटबाट चन्द्रागिरी पुग्ने केवुलकारको कुल लम्बाइ २.४ किलोमिटर हुनेछ । जसबाट आठ मिनेटमा चन्द्रागिरी डाँडो पुगिनेछ । अहिले फटाफट पैदल हिँड्नेलाई चन्द्रागिरी पुग्न दुई घण्टाभन्दा बढी समय लाग्छ ।

११ मध्ये एउटामा एउटा पोलदेखि अर्को पोलसम्मको दूरी नौसय मिटर छ । जसले गर्दा केबलकारमा यात्रा गर्ने यात्रुलाई ‘थ्रीलिङ’ अनुभव गराउँछ,’ उनी भन्छन्, ‘यात्रुले केबलकार चढ्दा रोमान्चसँगै रमाइलो अनुभव गर्नेछन् ।’

प्रतिघण्टा एक हजार यात्रु क्षमतासहित केवुलकारको पूर्वाधार जडान गरिनेछ । एउटा गोन्डोलामा आठजना यात्रु अट्छन् । मनकामनामा यात्रु बोक्ने गोन्डलाभन्दा यो ठूलो हो । मनकामनामा एउटा गोन्डलाले छ यात्रु मात्रै बोक्छ ।

सुरुमा प्रतिघण्टा पाँच सय जनालाई चन्द्रागिरी पुर्‍याउने लक्ष्य लिएर सुरु गरिएको भए पनि अहिले त्यसलार्इ बढाएरु प्रतिघण्टा एकहजार जनालाई लैजाने गरी पूर्वधार तयारी भैरहेको छ ।

बटम स्टेसनमा दुईसय कार, चारसय मोटरसाइकल र एकसयवटा बस पार्किङ गर्न मिल्ने गरि पार्किङ स्लट बनाइएको छ ।

चन्द्रागिरी डाँडो र त्यस तलको २० हेक्टर जमिन कम्पनीले ४० वर्षका लागि सरकारसँग लिजमा लिएको हो । यो अर्को ४० वर्षका लागि नविरकण गर्न सकिने व्यवस्था छ । केवुलकार सञ्चालनमा आए पछि त्यहाँको पर्यावरणीय सुन्दरतालाई पनि आफूहरुले उत्तिकै महत्व दिने प्रालिले जनाएको छ ।

केवुलकार, मन्दिर, फनपार्क र होटलसहित सबै परियोजनामा आईएमई समूह, भाटभटेनी, अम्बिकाप्रसाद पौडेल र वेलायतमा बस्दै आएका नेपाली व्यवसायीहरु उत्तम र नवराज नेपाल, उमा जीसीले लगानी गरेका छन् ।

सिटिजन्स बैंक इन्टरनेशनलको नेतृत्वमा नेपाल इन्भेष्टमेन्ट, ग्रान्ड, सिदार्थ र प्रभु विकास बैंकले रुपैयाँको कन्सोर्टियम कर्जा लगानी गरेका छन् ।

केवलकारसँगै काठमाडौंबाट नजिकै रहे पनि ओझेल परेको चन्द्रागिरी र त्यसपारि रहेको मकवानपुरको चित्लाङलाई विशेष प्रवर्द्धन हुने अपेक्षा सर्वसाधरणले गरेका छन् । पर्यापर्यटन, अर्गानीक फार्मिङले त्यहाँको जीवनस्तरमा सुधार हुनेछ ।

सय वर्ष अघि यही बाटोबाट काँधमा बोकाएर गाडी काठमाडौँ भित्र्याइएको भए पनि अहिलेसम्म त्यहा पर्याप्त पूर्वधार निर्माण हुन सकेको छैन्,  केवलकारसँगै चित्लाङमा विकास हुन थालेपछि स्थानीयवासिन्दाले पनि सहयोग गर्न थालेका छन् ।

बटम स्टेशनमा काम गर्दै कामदार

बटम स्टेशनको संरचना तयार भएको छ

थानकोटमा तयार भएको बटमस्टेशन

बटम स्टेशनमा एकदेखि तीन नम्वरका टावर रहनेछन्, त्यसको काम धमाधम भैरहेको छ

चन्द्रगिरी डाँडाबाट देखिने दृष्य

चन्द्रागिरीबाट हिमालदेखि तरार्इको मैदानसम्म देख्न सकिन्छ

परियोजनाका लागि आवश्यक पर्ने पानी ‘वाटरलिफ्ट’ गर्न पाइप विछ्यार्इंदै

भ्युटावरका लागि जग हालिंदै

केवलकारको टप स्टेशन

परियोजनामा तीन सयभन्दा बढी कामदारले काम गरिरहेका छन्

परियोजना साउनसम्म सक्नेगरी काम भैरहेको छ

काम चाँढो सक्न परियोजनालार्इ दुर्इ हिस्सामा बाँढेर दुर्इ वटा ठेकेदारमार्फत काम भैरहेको छ

परियोजनालार्इ निर्माण सामाग्रीको अभाव नहुने गरी व्यवस्थापन गरिएको छ

टप स्टेशन र बटम स्टेशनको बीच भागमा पर्ने जंगलमा टावर बनाउन कामदारको बसार्इ

केवलकारको सामान समेत डोपलमायरबाट अाइसकेको छ

Source: Bizmandu

SC order ends dispute over Pokhara Cable Car Project

KATHMANDU, Jan 26: The Supreme Court on Sunday quashed the petitions filed by Laxmi Intercontinental Pvt Ltd to scrap the bidding process with regard to developing Pokhara Cable-Car Project.

With the decision, the government will now be able to implement the 1.5-km cable car service extending from Phewa Lake to the World Peace Stupa at Pumdi Bhumdi.

A division bench comprosing of Justices Baidyanath Upadhyaya and Jagadish Sharma Paudel quashed the plea filed by Laxmi Intercontinental on Sunday.

The Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport had solicited expressions of interest (EOI) from the private sector to develop and manage the project under the build-own-operate-transfer (BOOT) model on February 22, 2012.

In response, five firms had submitted EOIs and the ministry had shortlisted three joint venture firms from among them and asked them to submit requests for proposal (RFP).

The three short listed groups were Lama Construction in association with United Builders and Engineers as well as Shahiba International, Laxmi Intercontinental in association with Sujal Foods and French company Pomagalski SAS Exclusivity Co-operation and Manakamana Darshan Chitwan Co-E in association with Austrian company Doppelmayr.

After receiving the RFPs and studying the proposals the ministry had decided to award the project to Manakamana Darshan Chitwan Co-E.

But dissatisfied with the selection, Laxmi Intercontinental moved the Supreme Court claiming that the selection was not fair.
Likewise, Chandra Kanta Bhattarai and five others also moved the apex court with a public interest litigation (PIL) arguing that the ministry´s decision to consider the financial proposal of only the Manakamana Darshan Co-E would establish monopoly and the nation would earn less revenue while the public might be made to pay more for the service.

Following the PIL, a single bench of Justice Sushila Karki had issued an interim order on August 6, 2013 to stall the project until final verdict.

It was reported in 2012 that the ministry had earlier planned to award the project to Manakamana Darshan Chitwan CO-E without competaive bidding, but had later decided to go for competitive bids following an order by the National Planning Commission.

Source: eKantipur

Pokhara cable car project moves a step forward

The government has invited requests for proposal (RFPs) to develop and manage a long planned cable car service in Pokhara under the build-operate-transfer (BOT) model. The Ministry of Physical Planning, Works and Transport Management has short listed three joint venture (JV) consortiums as eligible to submit RFP after studying their expressions of interest (EoIs).

The three finalist groups are Lama Construction, United Builders and Engineers and Shahiba International, Laxmi International, Sujal Foods and French company Pomagalski SAS Exclusivity Co-operation, and Manakamana Darshan Chitwan Co-E and Austrian company Doppelmayr.

The government has been planning to build a 1.5-km long cable car service from Phewa Lake to the World Peace Stupa, Pumdi Bhumdi. The project, according to ministry officials, is estimated to cost more than Rs 1.2 billion excluding land acquisition. The ministry on Tuesday requested the JV consortiums to confirm their participation in the project within a week and submit their RFP within three months.

The firm winning the contract will first prepare a detailed study with the size of the budget, the technology to be used and the amount of land to be acquired for the project, according to ministry officials.

“We are aiming to select a firm by June to develop the cable car project under the public private partnership system,” said Hari Om Srivastav, joint secretary at the ministry. He added that it would take a maximum of three years after the final agreement to start commercial cable car service.

Earlier, the ministry had planned to assign the job to Chitwan Co-E which operates Manakamana Cable Car. However, after the National Planning Commission ordered that the contract should be awarded through competitive bidding, the ministry had invited EoIs in February last year in accordance with the Private Financing on Infrastructure Development and Operation Act.

Five national, international and joint venture firms had applied for the cable car project. Ministry officials said that the project would take three years depending on the need to carry out an environmental impact assessment or an initial environment examination and land acquisition work.

Meanwhile, Fun Park a company promoted by the IME Group, Bhat Bhateni Super Market, Hathway Investment, Elite Capital and Uttam London Company based in the UK have decided to build a cable car in Kathmandu connecting Thankot village with the top of Chandragiri hill.

Ministry officials said that both the cable car projects would be additional attractions for the country’s tourism sector.

Source: eKantipur