eia study for introduction of aerial ropeway adjacent to existing chairlift at rajgir, nalanda, bihar

138 Pages·2014·8.11 MB·English

Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation

(A Government of Bihar Undertaking)

EIA STUDY FOR INTRODUCTION OF
AERIAL ROPEWAY ADJACENT TO
EXISTING CHAIRLIFT AT RAJGIR,
NALANDA, BIHAR

FINAL REPORT
DECEMBER 2014

RITES LIMITED
(A Government of India Enterprise)

RITES Bhawan,Plot No.1,Sector-29
GURGAON-122001(INDIA)
www.rites.com
CONTENT
1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND ................................................................................................... 1.1
1.2 CONCEPTULIZATION OF PROJECT ................................................................. 1.1
1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY AND TERMS OF REFERENCE .......................... 1.2
1.4 LEGAL POLICY ................................................................................................... 1.2
1.4.1 Environmental Clearance of Development Projects ................................... 1.3
1.4.2 Water and Water Pollution ......................................................................... 1.3
1.4.3 Air Quality .................................................................................................. 1.3
1.4.4 Noise Quality ............................................................................................. 1.4
1.4.5 Solid Waste Management.......................................................................... 1.4
1.5 INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK .......................................................................... 1.4
1.5.1 Central and State Pollution Control Boards ............................................... 1.4
1.6 APPROACH AND METHODOLOGY .................................................................... 1.5
1.6.1 Data Collection .......................................................................................... 1.7
1.6.2 Environmental Impact Assessment ............................................................ 1.7
1.6.3 Environmental Management Plan .............................................................. 1.7
1.6.4 Environmental Monitoring .......................................................................... 1.7
1.7 FORMAT OF THE EIA REPORT.......................................................................... 1.7

2. PROJECT DISCRIPTION

2.1 PROJECT LOCATION ......................................................................................... 2.1
2.2 ALTERNATIVES .................................................................................................. 2.1
2.3 ROPEWAY SYSTEM .......................................................................................... 2.1
2.3.1 Station Building at two ends ...................................................................... 2.4
2.3.2 Control System .......................................................................................... 2.6
2.3.3 Communication ......................................................................................... 2.6
2.3.4 Power Requirement and Supply ................................................................ 2.7
2.4 MANPOWER REQUIREMENT ............................................................................ 2.7
2.5 PROJECT COST ................................................................................................. 2.7

3. ANALYSIS OF ALTERNATIVES

3.1 SITE ALTERNATIVE ............................................................................................ 3.1
3.2 TECHNOLOGY ALTERNATIVES......................................................................... 3.2
3.2.1 Monocable Ropeway Systems ................................................................... 3.2
3.2.2 Bicable Ropeway Systems ......................................................................... 3.2
3.2.3 System Selection ........................................................................................ 3.3

4. ENVIRONMENTAL BASELINE DATA

4.1 ENVIRONMENTAL SCOPING ............................................................................. 4.1
4.2 LAND ENVIRONMENT ........................................................................................ 4.2
4.2.1 Physiography.............................................................................................. 4.3
4.2.2 Geology and Soil ........................................................................................ 4.4
4.2.3 Land use pattern ........................................................................................ 4.5
4.2.4 Seismicity ................................................................................................... 4.6
4.3 WATER ENVIRONMENT ..................................................................................... 4.6
4.3.1 Water Resources ...................................................................................... 4.10
4.3.2 Water Quality............................................................................................ 4.10
4.4 METEOROLOGY AND AIR ENVIRONMENT ..................................................... 4.10
4.4.1 Climatology .............................................................................................. 4.13
4.4.2 Air Quality ................................................................................................. 4.13
4.4.3 Critically Polluted Area ............................................................................. 4.17
4.5 NOISE ENVIRONMENT ..................................................................................... 4.17
4.6 ECOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT ......................................................................... 4.18
4.6.1 Pant Wildlife Sanctuary ............................................................................ 4.19
4.6.1.1 Flora ............................................................................................ 4.19
4.6.1.2 Fauna .......................................................................................... 4.21
4.7 HISTORICAL/ARCHEOLOGICAL MONUMENTS .............................................. 4.22
4.8 SOCIO-ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT ................................................................ 4.23
4.8.1 Demography ............................................................................................. 4.24
4.8.2 Literacy and Education ............................................................................. 4.25
4.8.3 Social Structure ........................................................................................ 4.25
4.8.4 Climate and Agro Ecological Situation ...................................................... 4.25
4.8.5 Health Status and Facility ......................................................................... 4.26
4.8.6 Transportation and Communication .......................................................... 4.27
4.8.7 Rajgir-The Project Area ............................................................................ 4.27
4.8.8 Scope of Land Acquisition and Resettlement ........................................... 4.27

5. IMPACTS ASSESSMENT & MITIGATION MEASURES

5.1 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS .............................................................................. 5.1
5.2 IMPACTS ON LAND ENVIRONMENT ................................................................. 5.1
5.2.1 Displacement of People .............................................................................. 5.1
5.2.2 Impact on Topography, Drainage & Soil Quality ......................................... 5.1
5.2.3 Impact on Soil Erosion/Landslide................................................................ 5.2
5.2.4 Risk due to Earthquakes ............................................................................ 5.2
5.2.5 Impact due to Solid Waste .......................................................................... 5.3
5.2.6 Impacts on Existing Features within 1 km ................................................... 5.3
5.3 IMPACT ON WATER ENVIRONMENT ................................................................ 5.3
5.3.1 Water Use .................................................................................................. 5.3
5.4 IMPACTS ON AIR ENVIRONMENT ..................................................................... 5.5
5.4.1 Impacts during Construction ....................................................................... 5.5
5.4.2 Impacts during Operation ........................................................................... 5.6
5.5 IMPACT ON NOISE ENVIRONMENT .................................................................. 5.6
5.5.1 Impact during Construction ......................................................................... 5.6
5.5.2 Impact during Operation .............................................................................. 57
5.6 IMPACT DUE TO VIBRATION ............................................................................. 5.8
5.6.1 Impact during Construction ......................................................................... 5.8
5.6.2 Impact during Operation ............................................................................. 5.8
5.6.3 Impact due to Wind Pressure ..................................................................... 5.8
5.7 IMPACTS ON BIOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT ...................................................... 5.8
5.8 SOCIO- ECONOMIC IMPACTS ............................................................................ 5.9
5.9 IMPACTS ON HUMAN USE VALUES ..................................................................... 5.9
5.9.1 Loss of Historical and Cultural Monuments ................................................. 5.9
5.10 POSITIVE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS ............................................................. 5.9
5.10.1 Increased Tourism Potential ..................................................................... 5.9
5.10.2 Employment Opportunities ....................................................................... 5.9
5.10.3 Improvement in Aesthetics ....................................................................... 5.9
5.10.4 Better Connectivity ................................................................................. 5.10
5.10.5 Revenue Generation .............................................................................. 5.10
5.11 CHECKLIST OF IMPACTS ................................................................................. 5.10
5.12 EPILOGUE .......................................................................................................... 5.11

6. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN

6.1 GENERAL ............................................................................................................ 6.1
6.2 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN .......................................................... 6.1
6.3 PRE-CONSTRUCTION STAGE ........................................................................... 6.1
6.3.1 Compensatory Afforestation ....................................................................... 6.2
6.3.2 Wildlife Protection/Enhancement ................................................................ 6.2
6.3.3 Corporate Social Responsibility .................................................................. 6.2
6.3.4 Energy Conservation Measures ................................................................. 6.2
6.3.5 Construction Material Management ............................................................ 6.3
6.3.6 Borrow area Management .......................................................................... 6.3
6.4 CONSTRUCTION STAGE ................................................................................... 6.3
6.4.1 Air Pollution & Dust Control measures ........................................................ 6.3
6.4.2 Water Supply and Sanitation ...................................................................... 6.4
6.4.3 Oil Spill control/Management ...................................................................... 6.4
6.4.4 Solid Waste Management........................................................................... 6.4
6.4.5 First aid Health System .............................................................................. 6.5
6.4.6 Training ...................................................................................................... 6.5
6.4.7 Soil Erosion Control .................................................................................... 6.5
6.5 OPERATION STAGE ............................................................................................ 6.5
6.5.1 Air Pollution Control .................................................................................... 6.5
6.5.2 Water Supply and Sanitation ...................................................................... 6.6
6.5.3 Solid Waste Disposal.................................................................................. 6.6
6.5.4 First aid Health System .............................................................................. 6.6
6.6 EPILOGUE ........................................................................................................... 6.6
7. RISK ANALYSIS

7.1 GENERAL ........................................................................................................... 7.1
7.2 RISK .............................................................................................................. 7.1
7.2.1 Risk Assessment ....................................................................................... 7.1
7.2.2 Risk Characteristics ................................................................................... 7.3
7.2.3 Risk management ..................................................................................... 7.3
7.2.4 Risk Communication.................................................................................. 7.3
7.2.5 Risk Assessment methodology .................................................................. 7.3
7.2.6 Safeguarding of Passengers and Personnel .............................................. 7.7
7.3 ROPEWAY ACCIDENTS HISTORY .................................................................... 7.8
7.3.1 Wire Rope Failure Accidents in Cableway/ropeway industry ..................... 7.8
7.3.2 Wire Rope Failure Accidents in Hoisting industry ..................................... 7.9
7.3.3 Wire Rope Failure Accidents in Elevator industry .................................... 7.10
7.4 FIVE MAJOR PROBLEMS IN USE OF WIRE ROPES ...................................... 7.10
7.5 IDENTIFIED HAZARD ....................................................................................... 7.11
7.7 CONSEQUENCES AND FREQUENCY ANALYSIS .......................................... 7.11
7.8 ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA ................................................................................ 7.12
7.9 MITIGATION MEASURES .................................................................................. 7.13
7.9.1 Design verification ................................................................................... 7.13
7.9.2 Acceptance ............................................................................................. 7.14
7.9.3 Materials .................................................................................................. 7.14
7.9.4 Foundation of towers .............................................................................. 7.14
7.9.5 Maximum Speed and Minimum Spacing Between Vehicles ..................... 7.15
7.9.6 Wind effects ............................................................................................ 7.15
7.9.7 Inspection and Testing of Aerial Ropeways ............................................. 7.16
7.10 RULES OF PRACTICE FOR PASSENGER ROPEWAYS................................. 7.16
7.11 OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE .................................................................. 7.17
7.13 CONTROL AND SAFETY OF PASSENGERS .................................................. 7.20
7.14 SAFETY MANAGEMENT PLANS ..................................................................... 7.21
7.15 ELECTRICAL PROTECTION ............................................................................ 7.22

8. DISASTER MANAGEMENT PLAN

8.1 DISASTER MANAGEMENT ............................................................................... 8.1
8.1.1 Preventive Action ..................................................................................... 8.1
8.1.2 Reporting Procedures ............................................................................... 8.1
8.1.3 Communication System ............................................................................ 8.1
8.1.4 Emergency Action Committee .................................................................. 8.1
8.2 EMERGENCY MEASURES ............................................................................... 8.2
8.2.1 Safety Measures ...................................................................................... 8.2
8.2.2 Rescue and Other Arrangement ............................................................... 8.4
8.2.2.1.Communication ............................................................................. 8.4
8.2.2.2.CCTV at Both Station ................................................................... 8.5
8.2.2.3.Public Address System ................................................................. 8.5
8.2.2.4.Protections.................................................................................... 8.5

9. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING PLAN AND COST

9.1 GENERAL .......................................................................................................... 9.1
9.2 WATER QUALITY MONITORING ...................................................................... 9.1
9.3 AIR AND NOISE QUALITY MONITORING......................................................... 9.1
9.4 SOIL QUALITY MONITORING ........................................................................... 9.2
9.5 ESTABLISHMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CELL .............................................. 9.2
9.6 ENVIRONMENTAL COST.................................................................................. 9.2

10. PUBLIC HEARING

10.1 GENERAL ........................................................................................................ 10.1

11. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION

11.1 INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................. 11.1
11.2 PROJECT DESCRIPTION ............................................................................... 11.2
11.3 BASELINE ENVIRONMENTAL DATA .............................................................. 11.2
11.4 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT ................................................... 11.4
11.5 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN ...................................................... 11.7
11.6 RISK ANALYSIS .............................................................................................. 11.9
11.7 DISASTER MANAGEMENT PLAN ................................................................. 11.10
11.8 ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING PLAN ...................................................... 11.10
11.9 ENVIRONMENTAL COST.............................................................................. 11.11
11.10 CONCLUSION ............................................................................................. 11.11

12. DISCLOSURE OF CONSULTANT

12.1 EIA CONSULTANT .......................................................................................... 12.1
12.2 OTHER ORGANIZATION/LABORATORIES ENGAGED .................................. 12.1
LIST OF TABLES

TABLE 2.1 SALIENT FEATURES OF ROPEWAY SYSTEM ......................................... 2.3

TABLE 4.1 SCOPING MATRIX FOR THE PROJECT ................................................... 4.1
TABLE 4.2 ENVIRONMENTAL ATTRIBUTES AND FREQUENCY OF MONITORING . 4.2
TABLE 4.3 DESCRIPTION OF SOIL SAMPLING LOCATIONS .................................... 4.4
TABLE 4.4 SOIL SAMPLE ANALYSIS .......................................................................... 4.5
TABLE 4.5 LAND USE CLASSIFICATION FOR STUDY AREA OF 10 KM RADIUS..... 4.6
TABLE 4.6 WATER SAMPLING LOCATION............................................................... 4.10
TABLE 4.7 WATER QUALITY AT PROJECT SITE ..................................................... 4.11
TABLE 4.8 MONTHLY MEAN MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE (IN DEGREE CENTIGRADE) 4.12
TABLE 4.9 MONTHLY MEAN MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE (IN DEGREE CENTIGRADE)4.12
TABLE 4.10 MONTHLY TOTAL RAINFALL (IN MM) .................................................. 4.12
TABLE 4.11 MONTHLY MEAN MINIMUM RELATIVE HUMIDITY (IN %) AT 08:30 hrs 4.13
TABLE 4.12 MONTHLY MEAN MINIMUM RELATIVE HUMIDITY (IN %) AT 17:30 hrs 4.13
TABLE 4.13 DESCRIPTION OF AMBIENT AIR and NOISE QUALITY MONITORING
STATIONS .......................................................................................... 4.16
TABLE 4.14 AIR QUALITY IN AND AROUND PROJECT SITE ................................... 4.17
TABLE 4.15 NOISE LEVELS OF THE PROJECT SITE ............................................... 4.18
TABLE 4.16 LIST OF FLORA FOUND IN PANT WILDLIFE SANTUARY ..................... 4.19
TABLE 4.17 LIST OF FAUNA EXISTING IN PANT WILDLIFE SANTUARY................. 4.22
TABLE 4.18 ARCHPLOGICAL/HISTORICAL MONUMENTS ....................................... 4.22
TABLE 4.19 SOCIO-DEMOGRAPHIC INDICATORS OF BIHAR AND INDIA .............. 4.24
TABLE 4.20 SOCIO-DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE OF NALANDA DISTRICT ................ 4.25
TABLE 4.21 HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE ................................................................. 4.26
TABLE 4.22 SOCIO-ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS OF PROJECT AREA ............ 4.28
TABLE 5.1 POLLUTION SOURCES AND CHARACTERISTICS ................................. 5.2
TABLE 5.2 CONSTRUCTION STAGE WATER REQUIREMENT ................................. 5.5
TABLE 5.3 TOTAL POLLUTION LOAD DURING CONSTRUCTION PERIOD .............. 5.6
TABLE 5.4 CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT NOISE EMISSION LEVELS ..................... 5.6
TABLE 5.5 DETAILS OF TREES WITHIN THE ROPEWAY CORRIDORS ................... 5.8
TABLE 5.6 CHECKLIST OF IMPACTS ....................................................................... 5.10
TABLE 6.1 COST OF ENVIRONMENTAL TRAINING PROGRAMMES ........................ 6.5
TABLE 9.1 PROPOSED MONITORING PROGRAMME FOR AIR AND NOISE QUALITY9.1
TABLE 9.2 PROPOSED MONITORING PROGRAMME FOR SOIL QUALITY ............... 9.2
TABLE 9.3 COST OF ENVIRONMENTAL CELL ............................................................ 9.2
TABLE 9.4 ENVIRONMENTAL COST ........................................................................... 9.3
LIST OF FIGURES

FIGURE 1.1 METHODOLOGY FOR EIA STUDY ......................................................... 1.6
FIGURE 2.1 LOCATION MAP OF ROPEWAY SITE ..................................................... 2.2
FIGURE 2.2 PHOTOGRAPHS SHOWING ALIGNMENT OF ROPEWAY SYSTEM ...... 2.4
FIGURE 2.3 LONGITUDINAL SCTION OF ROPEWAY SYSTEM................................. 2.5
FIGURE 4.1 PHYSICAL MAP OF BIHAR ...................................................................... 4.3
FIGURE 4.2 LOCATION OF SOIL SAMPLES ............................................................... 4.5
FIGURE 4.3 LANDUSE MAP OF PROJECT AREA ...................................................... 4.7
FIGURE 4.4 DRAINAGE MAP OF PROJECT AREA .................................................... 4.8
FIGURE 4.5 SEISMIC ZONING MAP OF INDIA ........................................................... 4.9
FIGURE 4.6 SEISMIC HAZADUS MAP OF BIHAR ....................................................... 4.9
FIGURE 4.7 LOCATION OF WATER SAMPLES ........................................................ 4.11
FIGURE 4.8 WIND ROSE DIAGARM (8:30 hrs) ......................................................... 4.14
FIGURE 4.9 WIND ROSE DIAGARM (17:30 hrs) ....................................................... 4.15
FIGURE 4.10 LOCATION OF AIR and NOISE SAMPLES .......................................... 4.16
FIGURE 5.1 PHOTO OF ARCHEOLOGICAL MONUMENTS BIMBISAR ROAD........... 5.4
FIGURE 5.2 PHOTO OF ARCHEOLOGICAL MONUMENTS MRADAKUSHI VIHARA . 5.4
FIGURE 5.3 IMPACT ON RECEPTOR OF NOISE GENERATED DURING CONSTRUCTION
PHASE .................................................................................................. 5.7
FIGURE 7.1 RISK ASSESSMENT FRAMEWORK ........................................................ 7.2
FIGURE 7.2 THE FIVE STAGES OF RISK ASSESSMENT ........................................... 7.3
FIGURE 7.3 PROCEDURE FOR A RISK ASSESSMENT .............................................. 7.6
FIGURE 7.4 RISK ASSESSMENT FLOW CHART FOR LIMITS OF PASSENGER ROPEWAY
ISTALLATION ....................................................................................... 7.8
FIGURE 7.5 PROBABLE PERCENTAGE CAUSES OF ACCIDENT IN ROPEWAY .... 7.11

LIST OF ANNEXURE
ANNEXURE 1.1 TERMS OF REFERENCE .................................................................. 1-4
ANNEXURE 1.2 EFFLUENT DISCHARGE STANDARDS (INLAND SURFACE WATER)1-2
ANNEXURE 1.3 DRINKING WATER QUALITY STANDARDS (IS 10500:2012) ......... 1-3
ANNEXURE 1.4 NATIONAL AMBIENT AIR QUALITY STANDARDS .......................... 1-1
ANNEXURE 1.5 NATIONAL AMBIENT NOISE STANDARDS ..................................... 1-1
ANNEXURE 5.1 APPROVAL FROM STATE WILDLIFE BOARD BIHAR ...................... 1-5
ANNEXURE 10.1 PUBLIC HEARING MINUTES…………………………………………..1-6
NOMENCLATURE
AAQM ................................................................... Ambient Air Quality Monitoring
BIS ........................................................................ Bureau of Indian Standards
BOD .................................................................... Biochemical Oxygen Demand
BSTDC .............................. Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation Limited
CO ....................................................................................... Carbon Monoxide
COD ........................................................................ Chemical Oxygen Demand
CPCB .................................................................. Central Pollution Control Board
CTE .................................................................................. Consent to Establish
dB ....................................................................................................... Decibel
DC ............................................................................................. Direct Current
DG ........................................................................................ Diesel Generator
DPR .............................................................................. Detailed Project Report
EAC ....................................................................... Expert Appraisal Committee
EC ........................................................................... Environmental Clearance
EIA ............................................................ Environmental Impact Assessment
EMP .............................................................. Environmental Management Plan
EPA ..................................................................... Environmental Protection Act
GIS ...................................................................Geological Information System
GOI ................................................................................... Government of India
GSHAP ............................................ Global Seismic Hazard Assessment Program
HC ........................................................................................... Hydro Carbons
HIRA ................................................Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment
IRS .............................................................................. Indian Remote Sensing
IS .......................................................................................... Indian Standard
ITP ....................................................................... Intermediate Terminal Point
KLD ........................................................................................Kilo Litre per Day
LTP ................................................................................. Lower Terminal Point
MoEF ............................................................ Ministry of Environment and Forest
NEP ...................................................................... National Environment Policy
NO ........................................................................................... Nitrogen Oxide
NOC ............................................................................. No Objection Certificate
O&M ....................................................................... Operation and Maintenance
PHE .......................................................................... Public Health Engineering
PM ....................................................................................... Particulate Matter
PPH ................................................................................... Passenger Per Hour
ROU ............................................................................................... Right of Use
ROW .............................................................................................. Right of Way
SO .......................................................................................... Sulphur Dioxide
2
SPCB ..................................................................... State Pollution Control Board
SWM .......................................................................... Solid Waste Management
TOR ................................................................................... Terms of Reference
UTP ................................................................................. Upper Terminal Point
URBAN/ENVIRONMENT ENGINEERING
EIA STUDY FOR INTRODUCTION OF AERIAL ROPEWAY ADJACENT TO EXISTING CHAIRLIFT AT RAJGIR, NALANDA, BIHAR
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND

India is recognized as one of the fastest growing economies of the world. Tourism plays an
important role in the growth of its economy. The State of Bihar in India has immense
potential for tourism promotion.

The city of Rajgir, the first capital of the kingdom of Magadha, is located in Nalanda district in
Bihar. Rajgir, which means 'house of the king', remained the capital city of the Magadha
kings until the 5th century BC when Ajatashatru moved the capital to Pataliputra. In those
days, it was called Rajgrih, which translates as 'the home of Royalty'.
It is sacred to the memory of the founders of both the religions: Buddhism and Jainism. It
was here that Gautam Buddha spent several months meditating, and preaching at
Griddhkuta, ('Hill of the Vultures'). He also delivered some of his famous sermons and
converted King Bimbisara of Magadha and countless others to his religion.
Lord Mahavira spent fourteen years of his life at Rajgir and Nalanda, spending chaturmas
(i.e. 4 months of the rainy season) at a single place in Rajgir (Rajgruhi) and the rest in the
places in the vicinity. It was the capital of his favourite shishya (follower) king Shrenik. Thus
Rajgir is a very important religious place for Jains also.
On one of the hills is the cave of Saptparni where the First Buddhist Council was held under
the leadership of Maha Kassapa. The Saptparni cave is also the source of the Rajgir Hot
Water Springs that have curative properties and are sacred to the Hindus, Buddhists and
Jains. Today an aerial ropeway provides the link with a hilltop stupa "Peace Pagoda" built by
the Japanese. The added attraction of Rajgir is this Ropeway that leads uphill to the Shanti
Stupa and Monasteries built by the Japanese Devotees of the Buddha on top of the
Ratnagiri hills. The ropeway is under the management of Bihar Tourism and running since
1969.
Not only as a place for worship, Rajgir has come up as health and winter resort with its warm
water ponds. These ponds are said to contain some medicinal properties which help in the
cure of many skin diseases.
RITES Ltd. (A Government of India Enterprise) was appointed by Bihar State Tourism
Development Corporation Limited (BSTDC), as consultant, for the preparation of Detailed
Project Report (DPR) for Passenger Ropeway systems vide letter no. Tour/Plan. (C) –
76/2007-1356/DOT dated 23.07.08 Subsequently Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
study was awarded to RITES vide letter no. sr.no.57/Engg/2012/1750/12 dated 31.08.2012.
An EIA study has been taken up as per the approved Terms of Reference (TOR) issued by
Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) of Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) for
Environmental Clearance of the project. The ToR issued by MoEF for the study is presented
in Annexure 1.1.

1.2 CONCEPTUALIZATION OF THE PROJECT

The tourists visiting the Rajgir are increasing every year. The traffic survey for tourists travel
at Rajgir was also discussed during the visit of RITES experts to site in the month of
September’08. The relevant available traffic data from December 2005 to January 2008 also
collected. The anticipated growth in ropeway traffic has been analyzed. The growth analysis
has been done considering 12% and 8% growth on average monthly traffic as well as on the