Himachal seeks assistance from European Alpine region companies for building ropeways

A delegation led by Deputy Chief Minister, Mukesh Agnihotri who is currently on a seven days visit to Austria & Switzerland for attending the INTERALPINE show and study ropeway transportation in the Alpine region of Europe, urged to share the technology and latest innovation for building ropeways in Himachal Pradesh.

Since the above Nations are pioneering in constructing ropeways, the State can take their assistance and expertise for setting up modern technology-equipped ropeways in the State which are more eco-friendly.

The delegation visited INTERALPINE at Innsbruck, where the world’s top manufacturers of ropeways, avalanche control equipment, snow grooming machines, etc. have exhibited their latest technology and innovation in these fields.

The show attracts trade visitors, decision-makers, and experts from the cable car industry, ski resort management, mining, and tourism. The exhibitors present their latest products, services, and innovations in the areas of cable car technology, snow-making systems, piste and rescue equipment, vehicles, and machines for alpine use, as well as safety and communication systems.

Since the geographic and climatic conditions of Himachal Pradesh is more or less similar to that of the Alpine regions of Europe, the adaptability of similar modern technique for the Hilly state of Himachal having similar topography can be a game changer.

The owners of Leitner & POMA, MND, and CEOs of the top world manufacturers of these technologies Doppelmayr and others also called on Deputy. Chief Minister and apprised about latest technologies and their suitability to the State.

The representatives of Salzman consulting company CEN certified Engineers who are on the board for the preparation of DPR for the Shimla Urban Ropeway Project also met Sh. Agnihotri and apprised him of the progress being made. Deputy Chief Minister emphasized the need of incorporating the latest & safest technology in this Rs. 1543 crore urban ropeway project in Shimla.

The delegation also studied Electric Cable Articulated City Bus network technology, which is being run efficiently and successfully in Budapest (Hungry) as well as Bratislava (Slovakia) and other countries as this eco-friendly Road transportation solution can be very suitable for Himachal Pradesh. The Indian delegation also got them acquainted with the Funicular Ropeway system at Nordkettebahnen, from the Innsbruck city center to Seegrub during their visit.

The Deputy Chief Minister also discussed the matter with various top company CEOs of the various ropeway companies and discussed the initiatives being taken by the State Government to adopt the Green and Clean Engine technology in a big way.

The CEO of Everice, a world leader in Ice Skating/ Hockey also met the Indian delegation and was apprised of the Government’s latest proposals to set up Ice Skating Rinks in the State.

The Deputy Chief Minister also met the Union Road, Transport & Highways Minister, Nitin Gadkari at Innsbruck, Austria.  

Sunder Singh Thakur, Chief Parliamentary Secretary (Transport), R.D. Nazeem Principal Secretary (Transport), and Ajay Sharma, Director, of Ropeways RTDC, were also a part of the delegation.