CM pitches cable car project for Gokak Waterfalls to Union minister Gadkari

Belagavi: The state government had promised to develop the famous Gokak Waterfalls area. CM Siddaramaiah, along with the public works department minister Satish Jarkiholi, met Union road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari on Friday in New Delhi and sought implementation of a cable car project on the premises of the Gokak Waterfalls area, which is located around 70 km away from the district headquarters.
Every year, especially during the rainy season, lakhs of tourists visit Gokak Waterfalls, which is also called the Niagara of Karnataka. Tourists from different parts of the country visit the spot and are mesmerised by the 581 ft wide water falling into a 171 ft deep gorge.
Another attraction of this spot is the hanging bridge just above the waterfalls. This bridge was built during the British era. However, entry to the hanging bridge has been banned for tourists for the past few years as it needs repair. The state tourism department has chalked out a plan to repair the hanging bridge.
Now, the state government has taken the cable car proposal for the Gokak Waterfalls to the central govt. If the cable car project is implemented, according to the locals, the number of tourists visiting the spot will multiply. A large number of tourists from Maharashtra visit this spot, which is on the way to Renuka Yallamma temple in Savadatti.
The Gokak Waterfalls, located on the Ghataprabha River, is in its full glory four to five times a year, whenever water is released from the Hidkal Dam. Once the water is released, tourists flock to the spot for two to three weeks.
Public works minister Satish Jarkiholi has taken the development of this tourist spot seriously. "The area is suitable for a cable car project as it is surrounded by hilly areas. Union minister Gadkari has responded positively to the project,” Jarkiholi said.
A month ago, officials of the tourism department, led by deputy director Baby Moger, visited the spot to check out other possibilities for implementation. Moger said the department has planned to start boating facility and amusement activities in the area. The department is also planning the landscaping of the park stretching for around 1 km in the area and to utilise it for some entertainment projects.