Belagavi: With no response from the Centre on a proposed cable car project at Gokak Falls, the state govt has decided to go ahead with the proposal under a public-private partnership (PPP) model.The initiative was first proposed a year ago when chief minister Siddaramaiah and public works minister Satish Jarkiholi met Union road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari to seek support for the project. Now, the state is preparing to proceed independently.Jarkiholi, who is keen on the project, revealed that he was inspired by a similar one in Dubai during a visit. “I presented the idea to tourism minister HK Patil, who has since taken it seriously. The estimated cost of the project is around Rs 50 crore. If implemented, it will be the first of its kind in south India,” he said.Dubbed ‘Niagara of Karnataka’, Gokak Falls draws lakhs of tourists annually, especially during the monsoon. Located some 70km from Belagavi, the waterfall is 581ft wide and plunges 171ft into a gorge. Located on Ghataprabha River, it is in full glory whenever water is released from the Hidkal dam – some four to five times a year.Locals say the proposed cable car would significantly boost tourism, further enhancing the site’s appeal. “The number of visitors could increase manifold once the project is in place,” said Rayappa, a hotelier.Soumya Bapat, joint director, tourism department, confirmed that technical consultancy has been assigned to Rail India Technical and Economic Service (RITES), a public sector enterprise under the ministry of railways. “The team from Delhi is expected to visit the site within a month and conduct a feasibility study. Based on its report, the tender process will begin,” she said.The govt also plans broader development of Gokak Falls area, including renovation of the iconic hanging bridge, the introduction of boating facilities, and the addition of amusement activities to enhance the tourist experience.