Is Assam Prepared For Ropeway Challenges Before Ensuring Enjoyable Ride?

Assam's major ropeway project is nearing to completion but whether people are aware about the challenges in this attempt to relish aerial cable car service from Switzerland based technology?

Gulmarg, Kashmir single ropeway cable car crash took seven lives though technically being on safety norms as it was due to the act of natural calamity the misfortune occurred. The reason simply because the wind in the open space high altitude of the Jammu ropeway route intensified that lead to tree uproot on the other end of the terminus which collided with the cables and snapped connectivity.This incident occurred way back in 26^th June, 2017.

Two years gap after similar car crash mishap had occurred but on contrary in a different scale which was completely a technical “ERROR”. The under construction ‘Mock Rescue Drill’ for inspection that carried six workers in the single cable  car had crashed down due to technical failure which lead two deaths and four serious injuries. Interestingly, few days later the Indian Prime Minister Narendar Modi was suppose to inaugurate this auspicious moment of ropeway operation to boost pilgrims to travel fast to Mahamaya Temple apart from the rest travelers. But due to what “technical maya or mystery” the Jammu ropeway car crash occurred at the site near to Mahamaya temple is still not clear.

Darjeeling Ropeway 2003 case where four tourists died due to single cable snap that instantly plummeted to two aerial cars to the ground, the state forest and public works department ministers under which this project was initiated conducted a meet for extra edge initiative for next safe resume of the operation. During the inspection of safe ropeway initiative the forest and public work ministers had involved a PWD engineer and teachers from two Kalyani Government Engineering College who had detected technical ‘ERROR’ in the trail run. Later after 9 YEARS gap the operation was resumed in 2012 over 70 00 feet range area filled with dense forest, mountain ridges, waterfalls, green valley including tea estates that reflects higher intensity threat if the ropeway cable snaps due to weight issues or natural calamities.

Darjeeling, mechanical engineer Vijay Gupta mentioned, “India is yet to trend on the latest safe technology of four cables cable car for dangerous terrain and safe resilient rescue net as in Japan’s Takao Chairlift single ropeway opened way back in 1959 (ideal example of safety).”

Engineer Sudipta Biswas from Kolkata had marked with concern stating, “Garaventa AG, Switzerland carriage and rescue system technology do have four cable cars but it is a costly matter as it will supersede the present cost of 56 crore ropeway project and so we could see single strength cable cars in Guwahati, Panbazaar terminus near to Nehru Park by the side of Brahmaputra bank.”

Marking on safety measure in ropeway implementation Sudipta Biswas marked, "There is highest challenge from mighty river Brahmaputra as against single cable ropeway which is to become India’s longest two way terminus point. Matter of point is not the pride of being the longest ropeway in India but the safety of the thirty one passengers boarding on Brahmaputra ropeway cable car, ready to face the challenge to pass through rough river wind, strong swelling river current underneath during flood and sharp stony layers during river water recede to meet their destination in North Guwahati. Under intense ropeway usage will Guwahati ropeway capacity of 250 (Persons Per Hour) endure without causality is a doubt. Not to talk about future trial version about Panbaazar ropeway as casualties followed in this years’ Jammu cable crash with six passengers on board."

Assam origin business man Vikas Jain based in Japan pointing on technology had added, "Looking into Brahmaputra’s futuristic challenges the answer lies in Japanese Technology based Kita Yatsugatake Ropeway as it adapts to modern needs. Low height based cable cars ropeway with much capacity powered wires to withstand greater people accommodation. Eventually has less percentage of unpredictable wind knock out and wire snap. Japan development authority has higher sense to counteract ropeway disaster keeping in full knowledge to overall challenges now we cannot expect the same outlook from Assam Metropolitan Development Authority, fresh on ropeway challenges. On greater futuristic outlook single cable car ropeway of reversible system over Brahmaputra is not approval."

NEIC Technical Report: SUMI BORA