Kathmandu-  A cable car is set to be developed at Champadevi, the popular hiking and religious destination in the Kathmandu Valley.

With major investment coming from Sanghai and the Bishal Group, an initial investment of around Rs 6 billion has been proposed, while Kamalesh Agrawal, President of the Nepal Chamber of Commerce, also among the investors.

On Friday, the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report for the project was published for feedback.

The cable car is planned within Bagmati Province, covering Ward 4 of Kirtipur Municipality and Ward 1 of Dakshinkali Municipality in Kathmandu District.

Alongside the cable car, the existing temple on the hilltop will be reconstructed and beautified, and various tourist attractions will be developed, Agrawal said.

 While the initial investment is around Rs 6 billion, larger investments are planned in later phases.

The Ministry of Forests and Environment has invited all concerned stakeholders, communities, and individuals to submit their feedback on the project report.

To be developed by Shri Champadevi Eco-Friendly Company Pvt. Ltd., the cable car will run from Kirtipur-4 to Boson in Dakshinkali-1.

The project will use 2.73 hectares of private land and 5 hectares of forest land.

It will employ 'Monocable Detachable Gondola' technology, with a total length of 2.075 kilometres.

The lower station will be in Boson, Dakshinkali, and the upper station in Kirtipur. There will be 34 passenger cabins, each seating 10 people, along with two cabins for cargo and one for maintenance. 

The cable car will have a maximum speed of 6 metres per second, with a one-way trip taking about 7 minutes.

The lower station will feature a three-story building and parking space for 400 two-wheelers and 200 four-wheelers. Near the upper station, an amusement park and temple complex will be built on 1.8 hectares of land.

The temple complex will occupy 2,614 square metres. After completion, its ownership and management will be handed over to the proposed 'Champadevi Foundation,' according to the report.

The report estimates employment for about 300 people during construction and 312 during operation. 

Envisioned to promote religious, tourism, and recreational activities in southern Kathmandu Valley, the Champadevi Cable Car is expected to boost visitor numbers, generate employment, and support the local economy. 

However, the use of forest land, environmental impact, and integration with religious heritage are expected to prompt careful consideration and discussion from stakeholders.