November 23, 2007	Friday	Ziqa’ad 12, 1428

ISLAMABAD, Nov 22: City managers have revived the Margalla Hills cable car project and invited firms interested in it to a meeting on November 29 to present their ideas, Dawn learnt on Thursday.

Former Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao had shot down the project because environmentalists strongly opposed it. His departure with the federal government provided the Capital Development Authority (CDA) the opportunity to revive its pet project.

CDA sources said the project was in an advanced stage when Mr Sherpao cancelled it. The environmentalists’ fears that the cable car’s route would disturb the flora and fauna of the National Park Area, scared him as he did not want to be caught in a controversy that may prove damaging to his political future.

Though environmentalists are still opposed to the project, the CDA bosses seem to have decided to ignore their concerns and go ahead with the project. The project would be commissioned “as soon as possible”, according to the sources.

Under the project the CDA is to start a cable car service, covering a distance of 2.5 kilometres from Children Park, commonly known as Japanese Park, to Margalla Hills in 30 minutes. Apart from the cable car ride, the project envisaged entertainment facilities at both ends, a revolving restaurant at the hilltop and an amusement park.

Private firms were offered to execute the project on Build- Operate-Transfer basis, or as a joint venture with the CDA.

According to the sources the project was estimated to cost over Rs500 million and to be completed in three years.

PC-I of the project had been approved by the CDA Board and studies were also conducted on its environment impact, financial viability and economic aspects.

The Children Park, situated at a height of 1,955 feet above the sea level, was to be the base station and the hilltop at a height of 3,839 feet the peak station.

However, Pakistan Envir-onment Protection Agency (Pak-EPA) objected to the site and suggested the cable car be installed from Shakar Parian to Rawal Lake.

That suggestion was shot down by the security agencies and police, citing security concerns for the VIP movement in the area.

Pak-EPA stands by its objections even today and has asked CDA to let it conduct a comprehensive survey of the site it has chosen to asses its possible drawbacks on environment.

It views the project as “an environment hazard as a number of trees fall in the path of the chairlift would be axed and the beauty and wildlife of the hilly area would vanish.