Businessmen have put forward a plan to operate cable cars on all major hills of the Kathmandu Valley. They have 'reserved' other hills after the resort with a cable car was set up in Chandragiri.
After Chandragiri, Champadevi, Fulchoki, Shivapuri/Nagarjuna, Panchkhal, and Sanga have been registered with the Department of Industries to operate resorts with cable cars. Chandragiri Hills came into operation from the year 2073.
Gunaraj Dhakal, chairman at Ropeway Nepal, said that it would be appropriate to build a cable car in Champadevi, Phulchoki, Shivapuri to enjoy recreation and nature in Kathmandu. He said the cable car could be a means of transportation from the city to the hills.
"It is better to build a cable car than to build a road from Godawari to Fulchoki," says Dhakal, "It is an environment-friendly means and the cable car can be built with less damage to the forest."
He said that building a road would cause more damage to the environment than a cable car.
Kamlesh Aggarwal, the owner of Champadevi Cable Car, claimed that running 4-5 cable cars in the Kathmandu Valley would be commercially feasible. He said that there will be no unhealthy competition as everyone will operate their business in their own model.
"People seeking a break from the hustle and bustle of the city, feel refreshed when they reach hills by cable car," he says, "It is good for the valley denizens."
Dhirendra Kumar Pradhan, joint secretary at the Ministry of Forest and Environment, said that although it was heard that the cable car had been registered recently, there was no proposal for environmental study permission.
"Which place is appropriate to build it needs to be studied," said Pradhan, the head of the Department of Forests, "When building a cable car on all the hills in the valley, vegetation and birds should also be taken care of."
Hari Pangeni, director of the Department of Industries, said that the cable car will be registered as an industry after getting permission to operate the cable car from the relevant authorities.
A few years ago, the Tourism Infrastructure Development Project under the Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation conducted a feasibility study of a cable car around the hills including Godawari-Fulchoki, Budhanilkantha-Shivpuri, and Thankot-Chandragiri around the Kathmandu Valley.
Now the Ministry of Tourism has removed the provision of allowing permission to cable cars.
"Earlier, Chandragiri Hills also took prior permission," said Hom Prasad Luintel, director general of the Department of Tourism.
The permission for the construction of cable cars has been given to the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration. The ministry, which has no technical manpower, gives permission.
Champadevi cable car under construction stage
Champadevi Eco-Friendly Project Pvt Ltd was registered in 2057 BS. The company with a total budget of 452 million 500 thousand rupees is planning to operate a restaurant along with a cable car.
Eco-Friendly Company Pvt Ltd is going to build a cable car at Champadevi in Dakshinkali, Kathmandu. The company had entered into an agreement with the government to lease 22 hectares of the forest area of Champadevi Hill for a tourism project. The project was stalled after the Department of Forests revoked the agreement.
After winning the case in 2074 BS, the company proceeded with DPR. According to the company, the survey of the road from Khahare Chowk to the company's base station in Chalnakhel Bosan, necessary parking area, ropeway, Champadevi Mata's temple area, and Hill-1 and 2 has been completed.
This cable car was allowed to be built and operated by Dakshinkali Municipality in 2076 BS. It is estimated that it will cost 5 to 6 billion rupees for construction. The company is trying to bring in foreign investment for it.
Champadevi cable car project is invested by businessmen including senior vice president of Nepal Chamber of Commerce Kamlesh Agarwal.
"We are in the stage of environmental impact assessment," said Kamlesh Agarwal, the owner, "We will start construction once the EIA report comes from the Ministry of Forest and Environment."
He said that since the report is already being prepared, it will come soon.
"Now we are planning to start the construction with domestic investment," he said, "the project will be ready in the next two years."
Proposal for construction of cable car at Fulchoki in the cabinet
Fulchoki Cable Car Pvt Ltd has been registered on August 25, 2020. It is registered at Godawari Municipality in Lalitpur district. To be constructed at an investment of Rs 660 million, this cable car project will have the capacity to carry 1 million 137 thousand 5 hundred passengers in a year. The 100 percent investment in this cable will be local.
The National Planning Commission on February 23, 2022, had decided to accord national priority status to the 3.53 km Fulchoki cable car project.
Fifteen years ago, Ropeway Nepal conducted a feasibility study at Fulchoki. Godawari Municipality Mayor Gajendra Maharjan said that this project is the pride of the municipality.
"The municipality has already announced it as a pride project," Mayor Maharjan told Nepalkhabar, "A proposal has been submitted to the Council of Ministers for the approval of the construction of the project."
Two companies to invest in Shivapuri and Nagarjuna
Nagarjuna Cable Car Pvt Ltd was registered on September 24, 2020.
It is mentioned that the top station of the cable car will be built near Nagarjuna Pachali Bhairav while the bottom station will remain at Jamchi of Nagarjuna 1. The total capital of the company is Rs 660 million.
It is proposed to build a cable car with the capacity to carry 1 million and, 120 thousand in a year.
It will consume 2 thousand KVA of electricity. This project will be built with the investment of Nepali businessmen.
Similarly, Shivapuri Eco-Tourism and Cable Car Limited had been registered four years ago. The chairman of the company is Indra Lama. It has been mentioned that about Rs 1 billion will be invested.
According to the company, the base station of the cable car will be at Than Danda in Gokarneshwar while the top station will be at Shivapuri National Park. It is said that a view tower, a resort and a meditation center will be built at the top station.
Registered with the Department of Industries, but investment yet to be finalized
Destination Majkhand Pvt Ltd has mentioned that it will launch a cable car in Lalitpur. Bagmati Municipality has said that the project will be based in Ward No. 3 and 5 with a budget of Rs 669 million 400 thousand.
Registered in the Department of Industries on October 8, 2018, the company will have the capacity to serve 400 thousand passengers.
"The cable car was registered before Covid-19," said Gopal Sanjel, the chairman of Destination Majhkhand, "Now we are looking for investors."
Hetauda-Bhimfedi-Kathmandu cable car is also registered with the Department of Industries. It will be built with a budget of 1.67 billion rupees. It is proposed to build a cable car with local investment.
Similarly, there is a plan to build Kailashnath Mahadev Cable Car Pvt Ltd at Chittapol in Bhaktapur district. Registered in the year 2070 BS, the project will be built at an estimated budget of 500 million rupees. It is mentioned that the annual passenger capacity will be 310 thousand.
Similarly, there is a plan to operate a cable car from Funpark to Mahadev statue at the joint venture of Kamal Jain and Bharat Giri, the owner of the Fun Park.
