GRAVITY GOODS ROPEWAY
Figure 3 : Anton Trzesnioswski, wood transport in steep terrain
to Lainchour (4 km) for the construction of Rana
palaces.
The second ropeway (22 km) was constructed in
1927 from Dhorsing (Bhimphedi) to Matatirtha
(Kathmandu). Later in 1947, it was extended to
Teku (+6.5 km).
The third ropeway replacing the second started
to operate from Hetauda to Kathmandu (45 km)
in 1964 to transport cement from the factory
in Hetauda to Kathmandu which owned and
operated by the then Nepal Government. Due
to issues related to management, and operation
and maintenance, the ropeway is not currently in
operation.
Practical Action Nepal Office (then ITDG) initiated
a study on ropeways in 1994. The first conceived
project for Ghandruk to Syauli Bazaar (4 km) did
not materialise. However, in 1998, it succeeded
to construct Barpak - Rangrung goods ropeway
(2.5 km) operated by a microhydro power plant
in Gorkha District. Due to operational negligence,
a fatal accident resulted in the death of a person
who was travelling on the trolley. From then on,
the ropeway is not in operation.
Gravity ropeway is the simplest
formofropebasedtransportation
system. Over hundreds of
years, gravity ropeways of
various types have been used
for timber transportation in
mountainous countries like
Switzerland. Gravity ropeways
are still important means of
timber (from forests) and stone
(from quarries) transportation
in various parts of the world.
These systems are still being
used to cross rivers and
valleys in Columbia and Latin
America.
Nevertheless,
its application
is not limited to
forestry/mining
sector alone as it
is also being used
for transportation
of local produces
to markets and
road head.
Gravity ropeways
Photo 1: Rope tranport used for crossing
valley at Chirajaya, Bogotovillavicencio,
Columbia
are operational at many places in Himachal and
Uttaranchal states of India for transportation of
goods.
In 2001, Practical Action Nepal Office, in
association with International Centre for
Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD)
successfully demonstrated gravity goods ropeway
technology in Marpha of Mustang District. It
was first of its kind in Nepal which was used for
apple transportation directly from the orchards to
the trail heads. With this start, Practical Action
is promoting this technology as a complementary
means of transport systems in rural Nepal by
modifying and advancing it for increased safety
and technical efficiency.
2