Pune : State Govt Proposes 38 Ropeway Projects In Maharashtra, Including Sinhagad Fort
Maharashtra govt partners with NHAI to carry out 40 ropeway projects(representational image)
By: Pune Pulse
August 29, 2023
Pune: The state government has recently submitted a total of 38 ropeway project proposals to the central government, with plans ranging at installing at Sinhagad Fort and five others in Pune District. Other districts in the state include Mumbai, Satara, Raigad, Nashik, Nanded, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg.
Officials from the state government revealed on Friday that the proposed ropeway projects have garnered attention from multiple districts. A senior Public Works Department (PWD) official outlined that while the central government will cover the approved projects, the state government will provide the necessary land.
The upcoming week will see a meeting to assess the viability of the proposed projects, and state PWD officials conveyed their satisfaction with the positive responses received from all corners of Maharashtra.
In a noteworthy shift, ropeways are being viewed as more than just tourist attractions, now seen as an integral part of urban transportation that enhances connectivity. Maharashtra boasts one of the most extensive lists of ropeway projects, with certain cable car proposals attracting private sector interest.
Capable of transporting 6,000–8,000 passengers per hour depending on the technology utilized, ropeways hold advantages in traversing hilly terrains via straight-line alignments, compensating for their moderate speed. This alignment feature helps reduce travel distances, resulting in higher cost-effectiveness compared to road transportation, as stated by a senior transport department officer.
On a national level, the Union Ministry of Road, Transport, and Highways revealed that it has received 250 proposals from all states, with over 200 projects currently undergoing detailed project report assessments. While emphasizing the importance of ropeway safety measures, infrastructure experts pointed out that the Union Ministry issued a letter in April urging states to establish standard operating procedures (SOPs) and contingency plans (CPs) to prevent accidents. The variation in ropeway regulations across different states poses a challenge for cable car contractors, prompting the Union Ministry to consider the establishment of a high-level committee to streamline the approval process. Currently, projects require clearance from 21 separate departments, and the committee’s role would involve evaluating the necessity of each clearance.
