STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: The much-awaited Assam's first ropeway project over the mighty Brahmaputra in the city will see the light of the day on Monday (August 24).
Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal will inaugurate the country's longest river ropeway connecting South and North banks of the Brahmaputra. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is likely to attend the inaugural function. Finance, Health, Education and PWD Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma will be among the host of dignitaries to be present at the ropeway launching function.
Even though the ropeway was scheduled to be operated from April this year, the COVID-19-driven lockdown delayed its launching.
The ropeway has its South-end at Forest Campus near the Kamrup (M) Deputy Commissioner's office and the North-end at the hillock behind Doul Govinda Temple. The 1.8-km-long bridge has two cabins, each with a capacity of around 30 passengers. The ropeway is to cover the 1.8 km in eight minutes. The ropeway's ticket fare for one way will be Rs. 60, while, Rs.100 will be charged for a to and fro commute. Commuters can get daily, weekly and monthly passes. As per reports, 58 CCTV cameras have been installed at the site for monitoring the ropeway service every single minute.
The estimated cost of the project is Rs 27.73 crore. The work was started in 2006 by the Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authorities as part its project to beautify the Brahmaputra riverfront.