The cancellation of the Mansa Devi ropeway tender in Haridwar has triggered a blame game, with various parties pointing fingers at each other over the flawed process. The Haridwar Municipal Corporation's decision to retract the tender came just before the Uttarakhand High Court was expected to deliver its verdict on a petition challenging the bidding process. The court had raised serious concerns about passenger safety and the lack of transparency in the tender, which allowed companies without prior experience in ropeway operations to participate.

Usha Breco Ltd, the company that has managed the Mansa Devi ropeway since 1981, filed the petition in the High Court. They argued that allowing firms with experience only in road construction and other unrelated fields to bid for the ropeway contract could compromise the safety of passengers. Their counsel, Sandeep Kothari, stated that the court shared these concerns and disapproved of the Municipal Corporation's approach, which led to the withdrawal of the tender.

The controversy began in April when the Haridwar Municipal Corporation issued the tender for the operation and maintenance of the Mansa Devi Temple ropeway. Usha Breco raised objections, alleging that the bidding process was designed in a way that favored companies without the necessary expertise in ropeway services. They claimed that firms involved in highways, bridges, tunnels, telecommunications, and even hospitals were permitted to bid, despite lacking specific experience in operating and maintaining ropeways.

The High Court took these allegations seriously and formed a five-member inquiry committee to review the tender conditions. The committee submitted its report to the court, further highlighting the irregularities in the process. During the hearings, the High Court expressed its surprise over the facts of the case and questioned the transparency of the tender process.

The Municipal Corporation's lawyer, Sandeep Kothari, informed the division bench of Chief Justice G Narender and Justice Alok Mehra that the tender had been withdrawn in light of the court's concerns. The High Court had indicated that if Usha Breco applied, it could be allowed to run the ropeway on an interim basis until a new, fair tender was issued.

The Mansa Devi Temple, located on top of the Bilwa Parvat in Haridwar, is one of the most revered shrines in India. The ropeway was installed to ease the journey for pilgrims, reducing the 3-kilometer uphill trek to just a few minutes. Given the large number of devotees who use the ropeway daily, safety is of paramount importance.

The cancellation of the tender has left the future of the ropeway operations uncertain. While Usha Breco may be allowed to continue operations on an interim basis, a new tender process will need to be initiated. This time, the Municipal Corporation will have to ensure that the bidding process is transparent and that only companies with the requisite experience and expertise are allowed to participate. The safety of passengers must be the top priority, and no compromises should be made in this regard.