PANJIM: The proposed ropeway project from Panjim to Reis Magos is expected to cost Rs 100 crore.
Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar, who was not present for the session due to ill health, said in a written reply to the Legislative Assembly that the government will not invest any funds in the ropeway project but it will generate revenue to the State exchequer in the form of service and commercial taxes. It will also help generate direct and indirect employment for local youth, he said.
As per reply, the contract for the project has been awarded to Menus Adventures Pvt Ltd, a Kashmir consortium with Doppelmayr Seilbahnen GmbH, Austria (Technology Provider). “The bidder will conduct the techno-commercial feasibility study of the project once the agreement is signed,” Parulekar said.
Parulekar said the ropeway could become a landmark project due to its unique and state-of-the-art facilities that will attract high end tourists. He also stated that new initiatives are being introduced with the objective of providing new tourist attractions to people (tourists and locals), and unlocking the commercial value of Goa’s tourism potential.
It will transform the State into a world class destination for adventure seeking tourists and boost additional tourism activities in the State, he said.
The Minister also informed the House that the department is awaiting permission from different authorities for innovative yoga tours, scuba diving, hop-on-hop-off buses and amphibious vehicles which will provide new tourist attractions to the people.
The minister said Goa will achieve the unique distinction of offering world class services to the tourists at no cost to the exchequer and will become one of the first destinations in India to offer path breaking and innovative services which are expected to attract high-spending family and adventure seeking tourists.
