Girnar ropeway fares slashed, but citizens want it cut further

Junagadh MLA Bhikhabhai Joshi writes to CM Vijay Rupani, requesting him to reduce ticket prices from Rs 700 to Rs 300

By Nischal Sanghavi

Ticket fares for the Girnar ropeway service have been partially reduced two days after it was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The ropeway project, slated to transform the tourism scene in Saurashtra, enables tourists to reach the mountain top for darshan of Datta Paduka in 7.43 minutes. Earlier, they were required to climb 10,000 steps which took hours.

The private operator has waived off the GST following protests that the fares were too high. However, citizens' representatives have written to the Chief Minister, saying that the prices are still high and they should be slashed further. Earlier the fare was Rs 700 plus 18% GST which comes to Rs 826 for an adult and Rs 413 for a child. Following the demand, the private operator of the service waived off the GST and reduced the fees for adults to Rs 700 and for children to Rs 350. Junagadh MLA Bhikhabhai Joshi had written to CM Vijay Rupani requesting that the fares be reduced to Rs 300 as demanded by the people. Joshi said that a similar ropeway service being operated at Pavagadh charges less than Rs 150 for a round-trip. Although the Girnar ropeway is three times bigger than Pavagadh, the tariffs are almost six times higher, he said.

Manoj Pawar, President of Usha Breco, the company that runs the ropeway service, said, "Followingrequests, we are reducing the ticket fares to Rs 700 per person inclusive of GST which is a reduction of around 18%. Fares for children would be Rs 350." As per Pawar, "On the first day, the services were free. It has been three days after that during which 5,000 people have already travelled on the ropeway and they are indeed enjoying the services."

Milan Kelaiya, an auto garage owner in Junagadh, visited Bhavnath Taleti on Sunday with parents and two children. "The parents wanted to go for darshan to Girnar using the ropeway. But the ropeway trip would cost us around Rs 5,000. I could not afford it, so we had to perform darshan at the taleti and return."

BJP leader and Junagadh Mayor Dhirubhai Gohel told Mirror that he too has written to CM Rupani requesting him to reduce the ticket fares following widespread demand from citizens. Gohel told Mirror, "It would be appropriate to price the ticket around Rs 400 per person."

Junagadh MP Rajesh Chudasama said he has requested the state government for further reduction in ticket prices to make them affordable.