Madan Wagle

Manakamana, January 6

The number of pilgrims visiting Manakamana temple by one and the only hi-tech cable car in Nepal, is declining in recent times.

The cable car sources say that the number of pilgrims is decreasing due to increasing Maoist atrocities and heavy securities checking on the highways.

Ujjwal Sherchan, junior manager of Manakamana Cable Car Company (MCCC) says that last fiscal year around 0.425 million locals and foreigners travelled to Manakamana in cable car.

"But this year, we expect some 0.45 million," he says adding that Saturdays and Tuesdays are the most busiest days for cable car service.

Sunil Karmacharya, chief of the operations and maintenance committee of the company says that it takes 10 minutes to reach the upper station in Manakamana from the lower station in Cheres.

There are altogether 34 cable cars in operation, out of which 31 are used to carry people and three for luggage. A car can carry six people.

He claims that this cable car is the only one of its kind in South Asia.

The then Prince Dipendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev inaugurated the cable car five years ago. Many members of the Royal Family have travelled by the cable car since then.

Karmacharya says, " With the use of modern technologies, cable car is made cent per cent safe."

Manakamana Cable Car Company provides 20 per cent discount to students, 25 percent to senior citizens and handicapped and 30 per cent to the children below four feet.

The number of people travelling by the cable car daily ranges from 1,000 to 5,000 in average. Out of which 20 per cent of the pilgrims are Indians.

Previously Nepalis and Indians were charged Rs 250 per head but now the price has increased and it costs Rs 315 per head. Foreigners are charged $10 per person, Sherchan informs.

November, December and January are the busiest months for us and at the same time regular power interruptions create us different problems, Sherchan complains.

Manakamana Cable Car Company (MCCC), established with the total amount of Rs 430 million five years ago, employees 150 people at present.