PANJIM: The State government’s landmark Rs 160 crore passenger Ropeway project from Panjim to Reis Magos will also serve as transportation for commoners, besides being a major tourist attraction.
A 1.24 km long ropeway project, contract awarded to the Jammu and Kashmir-based Menus Adventures Pvt Ltd, to be built on public private partnership (PPP) model, will be a revenue sharing project, wherein five percent of the total annual turnover will be shared with government.
The State Cabinet on Friday granted its approval for signing a lease deeds between the Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) and Comunidade of Nerul for a period of 99 years for an area of 8000 sq mtrs situated in Reis Magos.
Addressing media persons post meeting, Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar said that tourism being our backbone every step has to be initiated to elevate the sector. “If we want to compete with other touristic States or nations then such elevations in tourism facilities or infrastructures needs to be developed and promoted,” he said in the presence of Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar.
Speaking about the project, GTDC Managing Director Nikhil Desai said that the technology partner for the unique ropeway project is M/s Doppelmayr Gravanta, an Austria-Swiss group, which is a ‘world leader in installing ropeway projects. “They have conducted the feasibility study and has proposed the sites,” he said.
“Apart from 8000 sq mtrs of land from Nerul, another 5,000 sq mtrs of land belonging to tourism department behind the Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs will be acquired on lease of 65 years,” he explained.
The total project cost is Rs 160 crore. “Goa government will not spent any amount…the only investment is in form of land,” Desai said adding that the project would be developed on revenue sharing model.
GTDC has claimed that the project will create 200 direct employment and 700 indirect jobs. “It will be ready within 18-24 months,” he stated.
