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| Gulmarg Gondola stopped from 3 months | | Tourists disappointed, authorities unmoved | | Ishtiyaq Ahmad
Early Times Report
Srinagar, July 22: In a glaring example of administrative inertia, the authorities are showing no concern to restore Gulmarg Gondola phase 1, resulting in loss worth crores of rupees to state exchequer.
The Gulmarg Gondola phase 1 has been closed for its maintenance for the last around three months. However, the authorities are showing no concern to restore the Gondola resulting in huge loss to the government. "We came here for Gandola ride but it is not working," said Rahul, a tourist from Mumbai.
"Had we known it, we would not have come to Gulmarg. Most tourists come to Gulmarg for the Gondola ride to go to Afarwat and higher reaches," he said.
Another tourist Aman from New Delhi said, "It is nowhere in the world when the Gondola is stopped for three months during tourism season. I fail to understand why its maintenance takes over three months."
In the absence of cable car facility upto phase 1, tourists are using All Terrain Vehicles and ponies to reach the base of second phase at Kungdoori.
There have been complaints of tourists being overcharged by these operators.
"The ponywallas are charging between Rs 2000 and Rs 2,500 per tourists to take them to Kungdoori, where from they can reach Apparwath by booking tickets for the second phase of the cable car which is operational. All-terrain vehicles are charging between Rs 3,500 and Rs 4,000 per trip for the same route," said Ashik Ahmad, a resident of Rajbagh.
However sources said that the official rates fixed for the pony and all-terrain vehicles at Gulmarg are: Pony: Rs. 350 for first hour and Rs. 250 for every subsequent hour; all terrain vehicle: Rs 300 for 15 minutes, Rs 1200/- per hour.
An official said that Gulmarg Cable Corporation was losing crores due to closure of the Gondola that too in peak tourism season.
He said that the authorities should have started its maintenance during lean season. |
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