Gulmarg, June 25: In a major relief for the tourism sector, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday flagged off the resumption of the Gulmarg Gondola services, which had remained suspended for a month following a technical snag on May 25.
Speaking to reporters after reopening the iconic cable car project, the Chief Minister, as per Kashmir Convener, emphasised that the restart was not rushed. He stated that operations resumed only after the original equipment manufacturer (OEM), POMA, certified the maintenance and repair work based on an interim report.
“The gearbox was replaced within four to five days by the Cable Car Corporation. We could have started it on the fifth day, but we deliberately waited. We decided to start it only after the OEM reviewed the repairs and gave their clearance,” Omar Abdullah said.
Addressing concerns that the extended closure might deter visitors, the CM expressed relief that tourist footfall remained steady. “Thankfully, there was no shortage of tourists this year. People kept coming to Gulmarg even when the Gondola was closed. We had feared the town would be empty, but that didn’t happen. Now, with the reopening, we hope the numbers will increase further,” he said.
The Chief Minister also took the opportunity to acknowledge the efforts of those involved in the massive rescue operation on May 25, when over 300 tourists were stranded mid-air in 52 cabins. He said that while many received accolades, the real heroes—the volunteers and rescuers—were often overlooked.
“Out of the 52 gondolas, more than 40 were emptied by our volunteers and rescuers. The army and police managed the rest. Today, I thanked them. The Cable Car Corporation also gave them a reward of Rs 50,000 to show appreciation for their work,” he said. In a move to boost morale, the CM also announced the regularisation of six employees, with more to follow.
It is pertinent to mention that the government had constituted a five-member committee on June 10 to investigate the circumstances leading to the malfunction. Officials have confirmed that all safety checks and trial runs were completed before services were restored to ensure passenger safety.
Meanwhile, speaking to Kashmir Convener, Director of Tourism Kashmir and Managing Director of the J&K Cable Car Corporation, Syed Qamar Sajad, said all mandatory safety and technical tests had been completed before the reopening of the service.
“The gondola remained closed for a month. During this period, all mechanical tests, including integrity checks, load-bearing trials, cabin inspections and cable assessments, were carried out successfully,” Sajad said.
He said Chief Minister Omar Abdullah personally undertook a ride on the gondola to assess its safety parameters before approving its reopening.
“Only after the Chief Minister’s inspection and clearance were tourists allowed to use the facility. Commercial operations will begin from Friday,” Sajad said.
Comments are closed.