The Himachal Pradesh government has roped in the private sector for the first time to build a ski centre.

Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh laid the foundation stone Sunday of the ski-cum-ropeway centre on the outskirts of Manalia slopes at Solang, 300 km from here.

Said Amitabh Sharma, managing director of private company A Power Himalaya, which is building the winter sports centre: "The project involves an investment of Rs.142 million ($3.2 million). The ski centre will be operational by 2006.

"The plans include a restaurant and recreation units at both ends of the terminal (ropeway). The ropeway will be 1.3 km long and will take skiers 2,500-3,000 metres high from where they can ski downhill.

"The gondola-style cable car for the ropeway will be imported from France for Rs.92 million. Snow-beating equipment and even artificial snow-making machines to extend skiing duration will be imported.

"The ski slope will provide a free run (continuous ski slope) of three kilometres. The assured annual returns will be Rs.6.6 million. Besides, the state government will release Rs.10 million as project revenue," Sharma said.

Spread over an area of 1.8 hectares, the venture would work on a build-own-operate-transfer (BOOT) basis for which the government has leased out the site for 40 years.

The nearby 1.5 mw Solang powerhouse will supply power to the resort.

A unique aspect of these ski slopes overlooking Manali is that skiing here takes place often until May due to heavy snowfall in the region.

Currently, the state-run Western Himalayan Mountaineering Institute and the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corp (HPTDC) conduct skiing courses here.

By 2006, A Power Himalaya will become the first private company to run a ski centre in the state.