Sabarimala ropeway project set for June; no more tractors from Pamba

PATHANAMTHITTA: The Travancore Devaswom Board has decided on dates to lay the foundation stone for the construction of the ropeway which connects Pamba with Sannidanam. The land-acquiring process has been completed while the contract fell for Kolkata-based Damodar cable-car constructions. The board president K Ananthagopan held talks with the Kolkata firm. The team will reach Pamba this month for a close study of the geographics. A report of the same will be submitted to the board 10 days after inspection.

The ropeway starts from the Pamba KSRTC depot to the Sannidanam police barracks. The ropeway passes through dense forests, hence the decision to cut down trees that stand as an obstruction. Concrete towers need to be constructed at an equal distance to support the ropeway. The Devaswom Board has acquired the 10-acre land for the project. Meanwhile, an agreement has been reached to compensate this land for the 10-acre space owned by the Dewasom board in Chinnakanal.

During the start, many talks criticized the government's move to clear forests for ropeways. The board meanwhile pointed to the SC decision supporting cable cars through forests in Himachal Pradesh, to silence contrarian voices. The environmental ministry has given approval for the project and the work is bound to start within one year's time.

The move will help faster goods movement between Pamba and Sannidanam. Tractors will be avoided forever which will help save the pollution and muddying of pathways.