Adequate safety measures in place, Gulmarg Gondola resumed after expert clearance: MD JKCCC
Arshid Farooq
Srinagar, June 25 (KINS): Director Tourism Kashmir and Managing Director of Jammu and Kashmir Cable Car Corporation (JKCCC), Syed Qamar Sajad, on Thursday said that adequate safety measures have been put in place following the resumption of operations of the Gulmarg Gondola after a month-long suspension.
The Gondola service had remained suspended since May 25 after a technical snag left hundreds of tourists stranded mid-air, prompting authorities to undertake a comprehensive safety review.
Speaking to news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS), Syed Qamar said the restoration of Gondola services is expected to further boost tourist arrivals to the famous ski resort.
“We have adequate safety measures in place. Following the technical issue on May 25, the authorities took nearly a month to thoroughly assess the system. Only after receiving a satisfactory report from the manufacturer’s experts as well as our own mechanical team did the government decide to resume operations,” he said.
He added that employees of the Jammu and Kashmir Cable Car Corporation, along with casual labourers, played a crucial role in ensuring the smooth functioning of the Gondola system and in carrying out rescue operations during the May incident.
Syed Qamar also dismissed reports suggesting that overloading had contributed to the technical malfunction.
“Each cabin has a capacity of six persons and a maximum weight limit of 480 kilograms. There was no overloading,” he said.
The resumption of the Gondola service, one of Kashmir’s major tourist attractions, is expected to provide a further boost to tourism activities in Gulmarg during the peak summer season.
