Kalinchowk cable car increases fare

DOLAKHA, Nov 09: The Kalinchowk cable car has increased the fare. Kalinchowk Darshan Limited has increased the fare of the cable car at Kalinchowk in Dolakha by 20 percent to Rs 600 per person with the start of the tourist season.

The cable car, which was put into operation 4 years ago, will have 4 gondolas. Each coach has the capacity to seat 10 people. The cable car was Rs 500 earlier, but it has increased by Rs 100 since before Dasain.

The length of the cable car to reach from Kuri to Kalinchowk is only 900 meters. It takes 4 minutes to travel one way. Kalinchowk Cable Car is the third cable car after Manakamana and Chandragiri Hills. Mankamana 3 km long cable car fare is 700 rupees and Chandragiri 4 km fare is 800 rupees.

From the kuri of Kalinchowk, one has to walk uphill to reach the temple. Some religious tourists are forced to return from the middle of the road due to not being able to climb that hill. After the construction of the cable car, Kalinchok religious tourists have increased. However, Sukman Tamang, chairman of Kalinchowk Temple and Puja Management Committee, said that the increase in fares has affected passengers in Kalinchowk.

Despite the target of construction at a cost of 26 million rupees, the cost of the cable car reached 40 million rupees. Ashok Siwakoti, Chief Executive Officer of Kalinchowk Darshan Limited, said that the rent had to be increased as they could not afford the operating expenses. After the increase in fares, some people have started walking to the temple as passengers.

The area where the cable car is built is Kalinchowk rural municipality ward no. There is a boundary ownership dispute between 1 and 5. Similarly, there is also a dispute as to who owns the land occupied by the cable car, Guthi and forest. The cable car operating company has entered into an agreement with Guthi.