After Jharkhand tragedy, Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority safety lens on Brahmaputra ropeway

GUWAHATI: After the ropeway accident in Jharkhand in which three persons died, the Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA ) has emphasised on regular maintenance of the ropeway service over the Brahmaputra in Guwahati so that there is no possibility of any such incident here.

GMDA chief executive officer Kausar Jamil Hilaly told TOI, “The question of safety in Guwahati’s ropeway service after the Jharkhand incident is relevant. The ropeway over the Brahmaputra is very safe. Emphasis is being given on regular maintenance. The team concerned does maintenance work twice a day.

Moreover, maintenance is also done by expert teams from outside the state twice a month. We also keep the ropeway service closed for 10 days in March every year for yearly maintenance.

Usha Breco Limited is currently operating the ropeway service here in Guwahati after the Damodar Ropeways and Infra Limited completed its tendered period.

Usha Breco Limited took over in March. Hilaly said the operating agency and the GMDA are fully equipped with all kinds of safety measures. “In case of any technical stag, the cable car car can be pulled to the station manually.

Moreover, there is no chance of collision of cable cars here,” he added. As far as earning is concerned, the officer said the ropeway has become a profit generating service as there is gradual increase in flow of tourists and travellers.

He said the GMDA is earning Rs 75,000–Rs 80,000 on an average per day since March after the new agency took over its operation. It earned around Rs 16 lakh in 20 days from March 11 to March 31.0

“The Kamakhya temple and Mahabahu Brahmaputra River Heritage Centre are the city’s prime tourist destinations. After visiting them, tourists prefer to experience the view of the mighty river from the ropeway. There is a footfall of 600- 650 people every day,” he said. Animesh Deb, a city resident, said, “I used it twice during the initial days. The ride was smooth. Ticket for one ride was Rs 70 and Rs 120 for two rides.”