Fiscal Nepal
First Business News Portal in English from Nepal
KATHMANDU: A new cable car project is set to be developed at Champadevi, located in the southern hills of Kathmandu Valley, with an initial investment of NPR 6 billion, led by a partnership between Sangai Group and Vishal Group. The investment also includes participation from Kamlesh Agrawal, President of the Nepal Chamber of Commerce.
The environmental impact assessment (EIA) report for the project has been released for public feedback by Nepal’s Ministry of Forests and Environment. The cable car will be built through Shree Champadevi Eco-Friendly Company Pvt. Ltd., and will run from Kirtipur Municipality-4 to Bosan, Dakshinkali Municipality-1, in Bagmati Province.
The cable car system will use monocable detachable gondola technology, stretching 2.075 kilometers in length. The system will include 34 passenger cabins, each with a capacity of 10 passengers, along with two cargo cabins and one for maintenance. The maximum speed will be 6 meters per second, allowing for a one-way travel time of 7 minutes.
The proposed project will utilize 2.73 hectares of private land and 5 hectares of forest area. The lower station will be located at Bosan (Dakshinkali), while the upper station will be situated near Kirtipur. The lower station will feature a three-story terminal building, parking space for 400 two-wheelers and 200 four-wheelers, and necessary public facilities.
In addition to the cable car infrastructure, the developers plan to reconstruct the Champadevi Temple, situated at the upper station, to make it more attractive for religious and cultural tourism. The temple complex will cover 2,614 square meters, and nearby, a 1.8-hectare amusement park is planned for development. The Champadevi Foundation will be formed to manage the temple and its premises after construction.
According to the EIA report, the construction phase will provide 300 direct jobs, and the operation phase is expected to create 312 permanent positions. The project will require approximately 95,000 liters of water daily, which will be sourced from groundwater in the lower station area (1.75 L/s) and from Kharpa village (4.5 L/s).
Investor Kamlesh Agrawal stated that while the project starts with NPR 6 billion, further large-scale investments are expected in subsequent phases. He also mentioned the project’s broader objective to turn Champadevi into a hub for religious, ecological, and recreational tourism.
The cable car project is expected to significantly boost tourism in southern Kathmandu, enhance local economic activities, and create employment opportunities. The EIA report anticipates public consultations and detailed feedback regarding issues such as forest land use, environmental sustainability, heritage preservation, and community impact.
As Nepal continues to focus on sustainable infrastructure development and the promotion of religious and eco-tourism, the Champadevi Cable Car Project is positioned as a model initiative that integrates spiritual heritage, green mobility, and foreign investment.
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