TTD ropeway project may be revived soon

HYDERABAD: The government has revived the controversial aerial ropeway project between Tirupati and Tirumala and instructed the tourism corporation, which is the joint promoter of the project, to re-examine it and negotiate with the foreign investor once again. When contacted, endowments minister M Satyanarayana Rao confirmed that the project was under the consideration of the government."We are looking into the issue, but no decision has not been taken yet," the minister told The Times of India. The project costing Rs 150 crore was proposed by the tourism corporation and cleared by the erstwhile Telugu Desam government. The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams had allotted lot of land at Alipiri for developing the infrastructure for the project. The ropeway project kicked off a major religious controversy with the agama pandits and some of the members of the past TTD board expressing strong reservations over the move, saying that it would go against the religious sentiments and traditions. They contended that the ropeway would adversely affect the sanctity of Tirumala and convert the hills into a tourist and holiday resort. Agama experts countered the government's proposal saying that Lord Venkateswara spent his days on the hills before becoming an idol. No aircraft or helicopters are allowed to fly over the hills. Even film shootings are banned on the seven hills, they recalled. According to reliable sources, the government has reopened the file and asked the tourism corporation to initiate the project. The main promoters of the project are based in a foreign country, whose president visited Hyderabad some time ago. The issue will go to the TTD trust board for a final decision.