Biharsharif: The ropeway service to Ratnagiri Hill in Rajgir will remain suspended from April 8 to 20 due to scheduled technical maintenance ahead of the upcoming Malmas Mela, officials said.Ropeway manager Deepak Kumar said the shutdown has been planned in view of the heavy rush of pilgrims and tourists expected during the fair. During the closure period, engineers will undertake a detailed inspection and maintenance of the ropeway’s machinery, cables and other safety systems.On Tuesday, a team of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) also conducted a mock rescue drill at the ropeway to assess preparedness for emergency situations such as a cable car stoppage mid-air. The exercise involved coordination between ropeway staff and disaster response teams.Rajgir’s 400 metres high ropeway has a long history. The original chaircar lift was introduced in 1969. Socialist leader, Jayaprakash Narayan, became its first passenger. The system served visitors for decades and came to be known as one of the oldest ropeways in the country.The ropeway leads to the Vishwa Shanti Stupa atop Ratnagiri Hill. The stupa was constructed by Japanese Buddhist monk Nichidatsu Fujii of the Nipponzan Myohoji order as a symbol of global peace and non-violence and to spread the message of Lord Buddha.
