TTD: The government has revived the controversial aerial ropeway project

[Guest guest]

TTD ropeway project may be revived soon

K SREEDHAR RAO

 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK[ TUESDAY, MAY 17, 2005 01:16:21 AM ]

 

HYDERABAD: The government has revived the controversial aerial ropeway project

between Tirupati and Tirumala and instructed the tourism corporation, which is

the joint promoter of the project, to re-examine it and negotiate with the

foreign investor once again.

 

When contacted, endowments minister M Satyanarayana Rao confirmed that the

project was under the consideration of the government. "We are looking into the

issue, but no decision has not been taken yet," the minister told The Times of

India.

 

The project costing Rs 150 crore was proposed by the tourism corporation and

cleared by the erstwhile Telugu Desam government. The Tirumala Tirupati

Devasthanams had allotted lot of land at Alipiri for developing the

infrastructure for the project.

 

The ropeway project kicked off a major religious controversy with the agama

pandits and some of the members of the past TTD board expressing strong

reservations over the move, saying that it would go against the religious

sentiments and traditions.

 

They contended that the ropeway would adversely affect the sanctity of Tirumala

and convert the hills into a tourist and holiday resort. Agama experts countered

the government's proposal saying that Lord Venkateswara spent his days on the

hills before becoming an idol. No aircraft or helicopters are allowed to fly

over the hills. Even film shootings are banned on the seven hills, they

recalled.

 

According to reliable sources, the government has reopened the file and asked

the tourism corporation to initiate the project. The main promoters of the

project are based in a foreign country, whose president visited Hyderabad some

time ago. The issue will go to the TTD trust board for a final decision.