Tamil Nadu

Cable car project at Palani completed

By K. Raju

PALANI, SEPT. 26. The Dhandayuthapaniswamy temple administration here has completed the cable car project. Landscaping and provision of additional facilities at the ground station are in progress.

The project was taken up at a cost of Rs. 4.8 crores in 2003. Of this, Rs. 2 crores was allocated for maintenance. A private company, which executed the project, would maintain it for the next five years.

The cable car, containing 24 independent cabins, has the capacity to transport 800 persons in an hour. It would take 2.45 minutes to reach the hills from the foothill on the South Rath Street, covering a distance of 323 metres. Three cabins are meant for VIPs.

On an average, the cable car could transport about 11,000 pilgrims a day. Adequate infrastructure was provided at the ground and hill stations. The ground station has a spacious and aesthetically decorated reception lounge and a ticket counter. Sufficient seating facility has been provided at the reception hall. Sufficient space has been provided for parking of vehicles.

The temple board has decided to charge Rs. 25 a person for to and fro fare and Rs.15 for one way fare (going up). The board has decided to construct a golden rath. The officials pointed out that the temple was second to have a cable car facility, next to Hardwar. Besides, winches would be functioning to transport devotees. Winches would take eight minutes to reach the hill station. Mini buses, connecting the winch station, the cable car station and Padhavinayagar temple near Malai adivaram, would be operated for the convenience of pilgrims.

Trials conducted

Talking to The Hindu , the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Joint Commissioner and temple Administrative Officer, T. Sundaram, said 98 per cent of the work was completed and landscaping and minor construction work were in progress. Trials were conducted to check the strength of cables.

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