The Punjab and Himachal Pradesh governments on Friday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to set up a ropeway between Anandpur Sahib and Naina Devi.
The signing of the MoU, which coincided with the 111th birth anniversary of Shaheed Bhagat Singh, took place in the presence of Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh and Himachal counterpart Jai Ram Thakur.
It was done by Vikas Pratap, Secretary, Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Punjab, and Ram Subhag Singh, ACS, Tourism Himachal.
Amarinder welcomed the agreement as a historic move to facilitate pilgrims visiting Anandpur Sahib in Punjab and Naina Devi in Himachal Pradesh. The project would prove to be mutually beneficial for the two states, he said, underlining the need to promote tourism to boost the state’s socio-economic development.
The Chief Minister also stressed on the huge tourism potential in the region saying it was in the interest of all the states in the region to work collectively to facilitate tourism.
Jai Ram Thakur said the project should have been completed long ago because of its importance to the two states. He said though Himachal had cancelled the project in 2014, he initiated its revival after taking over and Amarinder supported it all through.
He said this project is a sign of Sikh-Hindu brotherhood, as it links the two historically important shrines of Anandpur Sahib and Naina Devi. He said 25 lakh tourists visited Naina Devi every year and 80% of them were from Punjab.
To be set up in Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode, the ropeway would facilitate lakhs of devotees visiting these two historic and religious sites in a smooth and hassle-free manner.
