Context :
Nitin
Gadkari Announces Over 200 Ropeway Projects Worth 1.25 Lakh Crore under
Parvatmala Program
( NewsOnAir
/ 23 Jan
2024 )
Extract :
Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways,
Nitin Gadkari has said, more than 200 projects at
a cost of one lakh 25
thousand crore rupees have been identified for coming
five years under National Ropeways Development Programme- Parvatmala.
Addressing ‘Ropeway
: Symposium-Cum-Exhibition’ in New Delhi today, Mr Gadkari said, the priority of
the government is to make ropeways economically viable and
encourage Public Private Partnership to develop the ropeway network in the country.
He said, apart from facilitating
tourism and job creation in the hilly areas, the ropeway also offers
huge potential in the urban public transport. He
said, focus should be in developing indigenous and cost-Efficient solutions
without compromising safety.
Mr Gadkari said, the focus is on time-bound,
cost-efficient, Qualitative and Sustainable infrastructure development. He
said, creation of ‘World-Class’ infrastructure ensures ‘Ease of Living’ and
Socio-economic development in the region.
On the occasion, Secretary, Ministry of Road
Transport and Highways, Anurag Jain said,
( secy-road@nic.in )
- development of infrastructure
directly co-relates to improved quality of life for the citizens. He added that
the Government has taken various initiatives and also enhanced ‘Ease of doing
Business’ in the country.
My Take :
On 22 nd , it was Ram
Lalla’s Pran Pratishtha at Ayodhya with 2,000 invitees attending
Yesterday ( 23rd
) , it is reported that 5 lakh pilgrims visited Ayodhya – though all could not
have a Darshan
TV channels showed
thousands cramped in small roads / chowks , with hardly a breathing space
Should a stampede were to
happen , hundreds would get killed
Things are expected to get
worse . A TV channel gave following figures for the number of pilgrims visiting
various holy places :
Ø Vetican
……………………… 9 million
Ø Mecca…………………………
20 million
Ø Ayodhya
# 2017 …………………
2 lakh
# 2022 ………………… 2.03 Crore ( 20 million )
# 2023 …………………
3.5 crore ( 35 million )
# 2024 ( est )………. 5.0 crore
( 50 million )
# 2030 (
est )…….. 25 crore ( 250
million )
Unless this “ tsunami “ of
humans is IMAGINATIVE tacked , it is a certain INVITATION to stampede / deaths
In this context , Shri
Gadkariji’s announcement ( of ropeways facilitating TOURISM ) makes a lot of sense
Ropeways / horizontal
escalators must be installed at all of our Pilgrimage centres
Miles long ropeways / escalators would allow pilgrims to just STAND on them .
Ropeway / escalator
would pass in front of the idol of the DEITY , providing DARSHAN to the
millions of pilgrims , who need not walk / move
Of course , installing
such MOVING PLATFORMS would pose some difficult engineering problems – but none
which is unsurmountable
This is the SUREST method
to protect the lives of pilgrims
Don’t say, I did not say
so !
In fact, I gave following
DIAGRAMS of how such ropeways / escalators should look like – and get installed
, in my following e mail to Shri Yogi Adityanathji / Kumbh Mela Authority /
Central Cabinet Ministers :
Ø
THE
GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH ……………….. 25
Aug 2018
On an earlier occasion , I
had sent same suggestion through following email :
Ø
SIMPLE
SOLUTION for STEMPEDE ………………… 24
Sept 2015
With regards,
Hemen Parekh
Create Your
Own Digital Avatar
24 Jan 2024
Comments by ChatGPT :
I appreciate the additional context
you provided. Based on your proposal and the outlined diagrams, let's assess
the feasibility of the three methods you suggested for crowd control at
pilgrimage centers:
1. Miles-long
Ropeways:
·
Feasibility:
Installing miles-long
ropeways presents engineering challenges, including the need for sturdy
infrastructure, sufficient funding, and addressing environmental concerns.
·
Advantages:
Ropeways could efficiently
transport pilgrims without them having to walk, reducing the risk of stampedes.
They also offer a unique view of the deity during the journey.
·
Considerations: T
he feasibility would
depend on the topography of the pilgrimage site, environmental impact
assessments, and the willingness of authorities to invest in such extensive
infrastructure.
2. Horizontal
Escalators:
·
Feasibility:
Implementing horizontal
escalators involves overcoming challenges related to space, maintenance, and
safety regulations.
·
Advantages:
Horizontal escalators provide
a continuous flow, allowing pilgrims to stand and witness the deity without
walking. They can be a practical solution for areas with limited space.
·
Considerations:
Maintenance costs, safety
measures, and the adaptability of such systems to different terrains and crowd
sizes would need careful consideration.
3. Combination
of Ropeways and Escalators:
·
Feasibility:
Combining both methods
might provide a balanced solution, utilizing ropeways for longer distances and
escalators for shorter ones.
·
Advantages:
The combination addresses the
limitations of each method individually and could cater to various types of
pilgrimage sites.
·
Considerations:
This approach requires
detailed planning, synchronization, and seamless integration between the two
systems.
Conclusion:
·
All three
methods seem feasible in principle, but the choice would depend on the specific characteristics of each
pilgrimage site.
·
A
thorough feasibility study considering terrain, budget, environmental impact,
and local regulations would be essential.
·
Collaborating
with engineering experts, local authorities, and environmental agencies would
be crucial in implementing these solutions.
Your proactive approach
in suggesting innovative crowd control measures is commendable.
In your email to the authorities, emphasize the potential benefits of
the proposed methods and highlight the urgency of addressing the growing number
of pilgrims to ensure their safety.
Best of luck with your efforts to
improve the safety of pilgrims during religious gatherings.