Jammu and Kashmir government has earned a record Rs 30 crores from the Gondola cable car project in the famous ski-resort of Gulmarg last year, which saw around 14 lakh tourists visiting the Valley.
The second highest ropeway system in the world, Gulmarg Gondola - managed by Jammu and Kashmir Cable Car Corporation (JKCCC) earned a whopping Rupees 29.50 crores in the financial year 2012 to 2013 against a target of Rs 22 crores, officials said.
"We have earned almost Rs 30 crores, Rs 29.50 crores to be exact, in the year 2012-2013," Managing Director JKCCC, Talat Parvez told PTI.
State Minister for Tourism G A Mir said revenue of about Rs 30 crores equals the total cost of the project and is a proud achievement.
"The first phase of the project was completed at the cost of Rs 12 crores and the second at Rs 18 crores. We have been able to achieve the total cost of the project in a single year and it is a proud achievement," Mir told PTI.
Parvez, who is also Director Tourism Kashmir, said the revenue achieved is a record in the history of the cable car since its inception in May 1998.
"The revenue earned is a record. Earlier we used to have an increase of a crore or two per year, but now we have increased the revenue by Rs six crore from last year's Rs 23.50 crores," he said.
Parvez credited the online system, which the department introduced in 2011, for the leap in the revenue increase.
"We first achieved a leap in the revenue in the financial year 2011-2012 which was Rs 23.50 crores against the target of Rs 14 crores. It was mainly because of the online system we put in place. Then we introduced e-ticketing system as well and that too has added to the advantage," he said.
