Aaqib Khan
Gulmarg, Jun 25 (KNS) : The iconic Gulmarg Gondola, one of the highest cable car systems in the world, resumed operations on Thursday after remaining closed for nearly a month due to a technical glitch that had left over 150 tourists stranded mid-air on May 25.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who visited the resort to formally throw open the service as per news agency Kashmir News Service (KNS) said the decision to restart was taken only after the original equipment manufacturer, French firm Puma, certified the repair work and maintenance procedures.
"Right now, the interim report has arrived. On the basis of that, Puma took the opportunity to review the repair work and certified our service and maintenance procedures. When they were satisfied, we decided to start the gondola again," CM Omar told reporters here.
The Chief Minister clarified that while the gearbox was replaced within four to five days by the Cable Car Corporation, the government chose not to hurry the process.
"If we wanted to speed up, we would have started the gondola again on the fifth day. However, as per the decision, we decided to start it on the first day (after receiving certification)," he said, underlining that passenger safety was not compromised at any stage.
"Thankfully, there was no shortage of tourists this year. People kept coming to Gulmarg even after the gondola was closed. We were afraid that after the closure, Gulmarg would be empty, but that did not happen. Now, with the reopening, we hope the number of tourists will increase," he said.
The Chief Minister lauded the rescue personnel who worked on the ground during the May 25 incident, saying their efforts went largely unnoticed.
"As far as I know, there were about 52 gondolas on the ropeway. Out of those, more than 40 were emptied by our volunteers and rescuers. The rest were handled by the army and police. The credit went to the media — no one asked about those who did the real work," he said.
CM Omar said he personally thanked the rescue teams and the Cable Car Corporation, and announced a reward of Rs 50,000 for the workers involved.
"Today, six more employees were regularised. God willing, more will be regularised," he added.
The gondola, a major tourist attraction in the Kashmir Valley, connects Gulmarg to the Kongdoori and Apharwat peaks and serves as a lifeline for the local tourism economy, employing hundreds of guides, pony handlers and shopkeepers in the region. (KNS)