Sabarimala ropeway: Applications for central approval to be submitted today

SABARIMALA: With the state government giving the green signal for the construction of the Sabarimala ropeway, the dream project of the Travancore Devaswom Board, applications will be submitted today for central permission. Permission from the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests is required. The construction will begin once that is received. This is a project that the Devaswom Board has been waiting for for the last 13 years.

The state government had issued an order on August 15 to hand over revenue land in lieu of the forest land acquired for this purpose. Following the intervention of devaswom, revenue and forest department ministers, 4.5336 hectares of land in two units from the Kattilappara settlement land under Shendurney Wildlife Division in Kollam is being handed over to the forest department for remedial afforestation.

So far, the main hurdle has been finding land in lieu of the forest land being acquired for the ropeway. The application for central approval is being filed since that is resolved. The construction contract is for a Kolkata-based company.

24 months to complete

The Devaswom Board hopes to complete the ropeway in 24 months avoiding construction during the rainy and pilgrimage seasons. The construction will be eco-friendly.

From Pampa to Sannidhanam

• The ropeway will start from Pamba hilltop and end near Malikappuram police barrack
• This is to make the movement of goods to Sannidhanam accident-free and smooth. There will also be an ambulance service.
• 40-60 cabins will move through the cable at a time. Up to 500 kg can be loaded in a cabin. 20,000 tonnes of goods can be transported to Sannidhanam at a time
• Automated warehouses at Pamba Triveni Hilltop and Malikappuram to store goods
• Four cabins initially for ambulance service

Construction cost: Rs 150-180 crore

Length: 2.7 km

Height: 40-60 meters