Maharashtra Submits 38 Ropeway Proposals for National Development

The Maharashtra state government has submitted a total of 38 ropeway proposals to the central government, aiming to enhance connectivity and urban transport across the region. These proposals include plans for a ropeway connecting Sinhagad fort and five others from Pune district, as well as projects from various other regions including Mumbai, Satara, Raigad, Nashik, Nanded, Ratnagiri, and Sindhudurg. The central government's National Ropeways Development Programme — Parvatmala will evaluate these proposals, with execution costs to be borne by the central government while the state government provides the necessary land.

Ropeways, previously associated primarily with promoting tourism, are now seen as a viable mode of urban transport due to their capacity to transport 6,000-8,000 passengers per hour. Their linear alignment over hilly terrain provides cost-effective and efficient connectivity compared to road transport. However, experts emphasise the importance of safety measures for ropeway operations.

Despite the potential of ropeways, the current approval process involves clearance from 21 departments, leading to complications. To streamline the process, a high-power committee is expected to recommend ways to ease the sanction process and potentially introduce a national act. This move aims to standardise ropeway operations across states and address specific concerns such as distance from residences and spacing between cable cars. Over 200 detailed project reports are currently being prepared for various ropeway projects across India.